It’s day two of the inaugural Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, and GOP officials, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Michigan Rep. Lisa McClain and Florida state Sen. Joe Gruters, have taken the stage to deliver remarks.
Later tonight, Vice President JD Vance is expected to give the keynote address after President Donald Trump’s lengthy speech last night, where he promised Americans $5,000 payments if Republicans retain their House and Senate majorities this fall.
Catch up on what’s happened so far:
Trump’s cash pledge: Republicans are reacting to Trump’s $5,000 proposal, which he has offered no details about on how payments would be funded. Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor in Texas, expressed support, though she disagreed with it hinging on whether Republicans win the midterms.
Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro said he doesn’t think the checks will happen, calling it a “very Trump-y approach to how to do politics.”
Ben Shapiro on Trump’s $5K pledge if GOP keeps Congress: Trump has ‘gift for the bumper sticker’
Ben Shapiro on Trump’s $5K pledge if GOP keeps Congress: Trump has ‘gift for the bumper sticker’
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Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis panned Trump’s idea to send $5,000 checks to all American adults if Republicans keep control of Congress.
“If you are getting surplus revenue, you should cut people’s tax and return it to the people,” the Republican governor said during a news conference in Miami.
Overall, the idea has drawn criticism from most Democrats and even some Republicans. Today, in an interview on Fox, Trump seemed to acknowledge the plan would require congressional approval. However, he told CBS he didn’t think lawmakers would need to sign off on it.
Honoring Kirk: Florida state Sen. and Republican National Committee chairman Joe Gruters honored the life of the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk this afternoon at the convention. “He believed in America and freedom and young people’s courage to stand up and fight for the country they love,” Gruters said of Kirk, who was killed one year ago today. He was 31.
Vance’s keynote address: Vice President JD Vance, who is giving the keynote address tonight, is expected to share deeply personal stories when he takes the stage, including a reflection on the death of his friend Kirk, as well as the birth of his fourth child, a person familiar with his remarks tells CNN.
CNN’s David Wright, Patrick Svitek, Alayna Treene, Alejandra Jaramillo and Kevin Liptak contributed reporting.