TRUMP IGNITES DALLAS GOP MIDTERMS: ‘Pretend I’m on the Ballot—Let Us Finish the Job’

“Americans have traveled from every corner of America to be here…Republicans are ready to win.” (RNC Chairman Joe Gruters)

Addressing a packed house at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Trump sought to make it clear: “The choice in this election is very, very simple,” Trump told the crowd. “Democrats are asking you to vote for their failed far-left agenda… and I’m asking you to let us finish the job.” Trump argued his administration has delivered unprecedented economic success, calling his first two years in office “the most successful two years, financially and every other way in the history of the presidency. “He also pointed to what he described as a surge in foreign investment commitments flowing into the United States. “We have more money being spent from outside countries and companies — over $20 trillion,” Trump said, adding that the figure could climb to as much as “$25 trillion” by the time his administration reaches the two-year mark (Fox News). President Trump: “Vote Republican, and we will leave the world in our dust for generations to come. There will be nothing like it.” The crowd: “USA! USA! USA!” (Townhall).

President Trump’s full speech this evening from night one of the 2026 GOP midterm convention in Dallas.
. pic.twitter.com/3ZWfTVcNdR

— Paul Villarreal (AKA Vince Manfeld) (@AureliusStoic1) September 10, 2026

President Trump headlined the Republican Party’s first-ever midterm convention Wednesday night, boasting about his record and offering every American $5,000 if Republicans hold control of Congress in the Nov. 3 election.

Trump implored listeners to “pretend that I’m on the ballot” so he can “finish the job” —presenting a stark choice between “radical left communists” and a continuation of his populist agenda.

Key points:

Fetterman Praises Trump at GOP’s Dallas Convention

The president offered Americans a major financial incentive to stick with him in what he called the “best part” of his energetic barnstorming-style 107-minute speech.The Pennsylvania Democrat was introducing his Republican colleague Dave McCormick via video. Fetterman (with a steel plant in the background):

Yes, I’m Senator John Fetterman, Pennsylvania. Yes, I’m a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today? Because, well, I’m a commonsense Democrat. I’m always going to stand with America. I’m always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life. Dave McCormick is the kind of senator that gets the job done and he’s going to fight for Pennsylvania. I’m proud to count him as my friend right back over my shoulder. That’s the iconic US Steel Mill. And that’s exactly the kind of thing that will work together and we’ll work with President Trump to fight and defend the steel way of life right here in the Steel Valley (C-SPAN).

SHOCKING MOVE: Democratic Sen. John Fetterman makes a surprise video appearance at the GOP midterm convention, declaring he will reject “the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life.”

The appearance is a stunning turn for the first-term senator who skipped his… pic.twitter.com/dnbPPapjh0

— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 9, 2026

Axios recognizes the significance: Fetterman’s stunning turn — a Democratic senator in a supporting role at the GOP’s showcase campaign event, fewer than eight weeks before the Nov. 3 midterms — marks a dramatic escalation in Fetterman’s growing estrangement from his party…. Democrats are certain to see the cameo as political mutiny — and it will supercharge questions about whether he’ll ultimately leave the Democratic Party before he’s up for reelection in 2028. It’s also a major coup for Trump, who has long reveled at the idea of winning over former Democrats to his side. If Fetterman were to eventually switch parties, it would make Democrats’ uphill battle to take control of the Senate much more difficult (Axios).

Trump pledges $5K payout to US adults if Republicans win midterms — so he can ‘finish the job’

Trump vows to end cashless bail and increase death penalty use at Republican midterm convention

I am at the Republican Convention I Can Confirm a Few Things…

1. The Energy is OFF the Charts.
2. There are no vasectomy trucks like at the DNC.

Republicans are united behind President Trump. This is so encouraging.

This is the legacy of Charlie Kirk, Young Republicans are… pic.twitter.com/4Opf8tC7eo

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 10, 2026

President Trump emphasized his administration’s tough-on-crime approach, vowing to end cashless bail and increase the use of the death penalty during his speech at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday.

“We will end no cash bail, and institute the death penalty for large-scale drug dealers, human traffickers, and murderers of our law enforcement heroes,” he told the cheering crowd in Dallas.

Crime and immigration are two key areas where voters have credited Trump with top marks. The president has repeatedly touted the country’s decreased crime rate as a reason to keep Republicans in power.

He dispatched National Guard members in various UScities — including Washington, DC — and pushed a number of policies that levy harsh penalties on criminals.

Trump vows to pass ‘The Great Healthcare plan’ cracking down on insurance companies

President Trump announced what he dubbed “the Great Healthcare plan,” featuring a crackdown on insurance companies, during his speech at the GOP midterm convention Wednesday night.

Trump’s exact timetable for getting “the Great Healthcare plan” passed through Congress is not immediately clear, but the president also teased plans to make his policies to reduce prescription drug prices permanent and end surprise medical billing.

“We will pass the Great Healthcare plan to stop all government payments to big insurance companies, and give the money directly to the people, for you to buy your own healthcare and have money left over,” Trump declared.

I am currently standing outside the RNC Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas, and it’s nothing but good vibes and massive crowds.

It’s funny how the Trump-hating mainstream has told terrible lies, citing “anonymous GOP sources,” that the Midterm Convention had bad vibes.

I love… pic.twitter.com/Xse6ezko0Y

— Charles R Downs (@TheCharlesDowns) September 9, 2026

The NYP live blog:

DALLAS — President Trump’s dream of a Republican midterm convention, a “rally like no other” to bolster GOP candidates ahead of November’s high-stakes elections, came to fruition Wednesday in the Lone Star State.

The Post’s politics team is on the ground in Dallas to capture all the action during the two-night event that’s facing stiff competition from the NFL’s opening games — with a keynote from the commander-in-chief to close out both nights.

President Trump took the stage to cheers, loud applause and a live rendition of his rally staple, Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to Be an American.”

“In 55 days, Americans will be going to the polls in one of the most important elections in our country’s history,” the president said during his nearly two-hour remarks.

“Your vote will decide whether our country stumbles at the starting gate of the next 250 years, or surges forward and never, ever looks back.”

The president vowed to end cashless bail and increase death penalty use, slash “out-of-control credit card swipe fees,” pass “The Great Healthcare plan” and pushing a new bill making it illegal for future presidents “to open the border again.”

Early speakers blasted Democrats — including the slate of socialist candidates who swept the primary elections. Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman made a surprise appearance to introduce his fellow Keystone State colleague, Sen. Dave McCormick.

Attorney General Todd Blanche touted the Trump administration’s “law and order” agenda, highlighting the deportation of “2.6 million criminal aliens.”

A whopping 109 big-name pols and red-party superstars will take the stage across the two nights to also showcase achievements so far in Trump’s second term.

Trump honors Charlie Kirk at GOP midterm convention with his widow Erika in attendance on eve of 1-year anniversary of his assassination’

Erika Kirk attended President Trump’s speech at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas — and was recognized by the commander-in-chief — on the eve of the one-year anniversary of her husband’s assassination.

“Exactly one year ago tomorrow, a far-left extremist assassinated my great friend and conservative voice, Charlie Kirk — because Charlie Kirk spoke the truth,” Trump said.

“What shocked millions of Americans was not only the fact that Charlie was murdered — as bad as it was — but also how many people made an excuse for it or cheered for it,” the president continued. “They were cheering, some people, sick people.”

The convention kicked off on the eve of the one-year anniversary of her husband, TPUSA founder Charlie Kirk, was assassinated during an event in Utah.
Republican National Convention

Trump added, “I just want to say we love you. Charlie.”

The president then revealed: “And Erika is here.”

“And I think Erika is going to be here tomorrow, too,” Trump said. “She’s put up with something. Boy, oh, boy. What she’s had to go through. And it was a beautiful family.

“It’s just terrible.”

Ericka Kirk was seated in the VIP box with Vice President JD Vance and other Trump administration officials.

Trump jokes Texas Senate candidate James ‘Talafreako’ ran a ‘campaign to beat meat’

DALLAS — President Trump once again trashed Texas Senate hopeful James Talarico, claiming the Democrat once “ran a campaign to beat meat.”

“He was also somebody that hated eating meat. But he ran a campaign to beat meat. He called it beat meat. I don’t know what the hell he meant,” Trump quipped.

United States President Donald J Trump, speaks at the Republican Midterm Convention at the American Airlines Center on Wednesday, September 9, 2026.
President Donald J. Trump speaks at the Republican Midterm Convention at the American Airlines Center on Sept. 9, 2026.
Ron Sachs – CNP for NY Post
Talarico and his campaign have insisted that he’s never been vegan and occasionally released photos of him wolfing down meat.

Trump appeared to be referencing Talarico’s boast in 2022 that his reelection effort was a “non-meat campaign.” It doesn’t appear that Talarico ever had a campaign that used the dirty phrase “beat meat.”

The president’s riff about “Talafreako” drew laughs from the crowd.

Trump promises $5,000 dividend to every adult American citizen if Republicans win the midterm elections

President Trump pledged to give every US citizen a $5,000 dividend Wednesday if Republicans keep the House and Senate after the midterm elections.

“Here is my promise: If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them, because of our economic, tremendous economic success …. I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000,” Trump said at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas.

The president said the so-called “Trump dividend” money must be spent in the US.

Trump threatens to bomb Pickaxe Mountain: ‘I would advise Iran not to get cute’

DALLAS — President Trump made a not-so-subtle threat to bomb Pickaxe Mountain in Iran amid fears that the Islamic Republic is building a nuclear weapon in the underground facility.

“There’s another place called Pickaxe Mountain,” Trump said. “We may have to give them a shot there, too, because somebody said there was a little movement at the site. We don’t need much. We see everything.”

President Trump warned Tehran “not to get cute.”

“I would advise Iran not to get cute because you’ll have to hit them very hard,” he added. “We have no choice. We have no choice.”

The president also acknowledged the criticism he’s received over the spike in gas prices due to the war in Iran after the theocratic regime caused mayhem in the Strait of Hormuz oil chokepoint.

“It’s the state sponsor of terror all over the world,” Trump said. “Considered just about the most evil country, we cannot let them have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump vows to pass ‘The Great Healthcare plan’ cracking down on insurance companies

DALLAS — President Trump will push for what he dubbed “the Great Healthcare plan,” featuring a crackdown on insurance companies, during his speech at the GOP midterm convention, according to prepared remarks.

Trump’s exact timetable for getting “the Great Healthcare plan” passed through Congress is not immediately clear, but the president is also expected to tease plans to make his policies to reduce prescription drug prices permanent and end surprise medical billing.

“We will pass the Great Healthcare plan to stop all government payments to big insurance companies, and give the money directly to the people, for you to buy your own healthcare and have money left over,” Trump will say, according to a copy his remarks obtained by The Post.

Last year, when the enhanced Obamacare subsidies were set to expire, Republicans floated multiple different proposals for an alternative policy. Trump had gravitated towards the idea of taking the subsidies and giving them directly to consumers rather than going through insurance companies.

Trump pushes new bill making it illegal for future presidents ‘to open the border again’

President Trump is floating a new bill that would make it illegal for future presidents “to open the border again,” he said during a speech at the Republican midterm convention.

The president is expected to propose the legislation under the title the “No Invasions Act” on Wednesday night at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.

“We will make it legally impossible for any future president to destroy our country by having the right to open the border again,” Trump will say, according to a copy of his prepared remarks.

Thune gets booed after Trump gives Senate leader kudos during speech

DALLAS — President Trump’s mention of Senate Majority Leader John Thune drew boos from the audience at the GOP midterm convention.

“And John Thune is here for the Senate,” Trump said after giving a shoutout to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) “Where’s John? John is working hard. He’s got great opposition.”

Attendees react during the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas, U.S., September 9, 2026. REUTERS/Jessica Koscielniak
The crowd erupted into boos when Trump mentioned Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
REUTERS
After the boos erupted, Trump defended Thune, underscoring the opposition he’s faced from Democrats.

Thune faced backlash from elements of the MAGA base due to the Senate’s inability to pass the SAVE America Act.

9 hours ago
Trump will pledge to slash ‘out-of-control credit card swipe fees’ at GOP midterm convention
By Victor Nava
President Trump will pledge to slash “out-of-control credit card swipe fees” in his speech Wednesday at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas.

“We will cut out-of-control credit card swipe fees, saving the average family $1,200 per year,” Trump will tell the crowd, according to his prepared remarks.

“We will not allow Americans to pay seven to eight times more in those fees than they do in other countries — much like I solved favored nations,” the president will argue.

Earlier this year, Trump urged congressional lawmakers to pass the Credit Card Competition Act, which he said in a social media post would “stop the out-of-control swipe fee ripoff.”

The president has previously floated capping credit card interest rates at 10%.

9 hours ago
Trump vows to end cashless bail and increase death penalty at Republican midterm convention
By Emily Goodin
President Trump emphasized his administration’s tough-on-crime approach, vowing to end cashless bail and increase the use of the death penalty.

“We will end No Cash Bail, and institute the Death Penalty for large-scale drug dealers, human traffickers, and murderers of law enforcement,” he said in his remarks.

Trump signed an executive order to encourage the disuse of cashless bail, which lets defendants be released from jail before their trial without having to pay a financial bond.

His order, signed in August, asks federal agencies to withhold federal grants and funding from states and cities that use cashless bail.

Trump blasts soft-on-crime Dems: They ‘put handcuffs on our police, but we put handcuffs on criminals’

President Trump blasted soft-on-crime Democrats during his keynote address on the first night of the Republican midterm convention in Dallas.

US President Donald J. Trump speaks on the first day of the Midterm Republican National Convention (RNC) in the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, USA, 09 September 2026. The two-day event, conceived by US President Donald Trump to spotlight key midterm congressional races, runs 09-10 September.

“The Democrats put handcuffs on our police, but we put handcuffs on criminals. Last year, we achieved the largest drop in violent crime ever recorded, with the murder rate falling to the lowest level in 125 years— 1900.”

Trump mocks Ken Paxton’s look, way of talking: ‘Not the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen’

DALLAS — President Trump roasted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to a Lone Star-state heavy audience, ripping the Senate hopeful’s attire and way of talking.

REUTERS
“Some may not like the way he dresses. I don’t,” Trump chided bluntly. “Although tonight he looked very spiffy in his blue suit, I must say. But they may not like the way he talks. I can see that. Yeah.”

Trump joked that many of his advisers don’t want him to poke fun at Paxton, who spoke earlier in the evening. After mocking him, Trump urged Republicans to elect him.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, candidate for U.S. Senate, speaks at the Republican National Midterm Convention in Dallas, Texas, U.S., September 9, 2026.
Trump has joked numerous times about Paxton’s outfit choices.

“He may not dress right,” Trump said. “He may not talk exactly perfectly. And he may not be the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen, but you know what he is? He’s the greatest Attorney General in America.”

Trump vows to campaign so much for GOP that people will tell him to get the hell out

President Trump vowed to campaign repeatedly for GOP candidates ahead of November’s midterm election, rallying for some of the “two or three times” if needed.

US President Donald Trump speaks during the Republican National Midterm Convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas on September 9, 2026. US

Republicans open an extraordinary midterm convention in Dallas on September 9 betting that putting Donald Trump at the center of their campaign can rescue a party facing grim election forecasts — despite the president’s negative approval ratings. (Photo by Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images)

Trump said that voters will want him to “get the hell out” after how much he will be campaigning.

He noted the Republican Party has 35 swing races in its battle to keep control of the House and Senate.

“I’m going to go to every one of those states for congressmen and for senators,” Trump said.

“I’ll come back twice or three times,” he vowed. “You’re going to be saying, ‘Get him the hell out of here! He’s near too much.’”

DALLAS, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 09: People cheer as U.S. President Donald Trump speaks on stage on the first day of the 2026 Republican National Convention at the American Airlines Center on September 09, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. U.S. President Donald Trump will headline the Republican National Committee’s first-ever midterm convention as he aims to highlight his administration’s achievements and rally support for GOP candidates just two months before the upcoming elections being held on November 3.
Trump is trying to rally his MAGA base to come out in the election even though he’s not on the ballot.

Trump urges GOP voters to ‘pretend I’m on the ballot’ in critical midterm elections

President Trump urged voters at the GOP midterm convention to “pretend” he’s on the ballot in November.

“I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot — I’m on the ballot. Just one more time,” Trump said.

The president added, “Because if we lose, you’re going to lose your border. You’re going to lose your tax cuts. You’re going to lose your safety and security. You’re going to lose your wealth … You will be going through hell just like you did just two years ago.”

Trump says great presidents lose midterms: ‘We’re going to change that’

DALLAS — President Trump acknowledged the historical headwinds he faces in the midterm elections, but vowed to defy that trend.

“But for some reason, when a president wins, even if he’s really a good president or a great president — there aren’t too many of them — they don’t win the midterms, and nobody quite knows why,” Trump said.

“We’re going to change that. There’s no reason for it.”

Trump once again urged his fellow Republicans to “pretend that I’m on the ballot.”

Trump implores Americans to remember ‘it started with me’ when ‘country is rocketing’

President Trump asked his MAGA faithful to remember — when the economy improves — that it was his work that made it happen.

“I want you to remember me in four or five years when this country is rocketing. Remember, I’m the one that got it started,” he told the adoring crowd in Dallas.

Melania Trump hosts her own event on midterm convention’s first night

Melania Trump had her own event to attend while President Trump was at the first night of the GOP convention.

The first lady addressed the White House Historical Association’s annual presidential sites summit in the Rose Garden, talking about her preservation efforts and the importance of being a good steward of the presidential residence.

“As stewards of the places shaped by those before us, we are tasked with making decisions that honor future generations. It is our duty to ensure that the choices we make today are worthy of the legacy we pass forward,” she said, according to a transcript of her remarks provided by her office.

https://twitter.com/FirstLadyOffice/status/2097861452438659100?s=20