![\"President](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/FTW_22-AED_2026RepublicanConvention.JPG\" "\\"FTW_22-AED_2026RepublicanConvention.JPG\\"")
President Donald Trump gives the keynote address on night one of the 2026 Republican Convention on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram <\/p>\n
President Donald Trump defended his White House record, blasted Democrats\u2019 ideas as dangerous and tried to energize his base Wednesday night at an unprecedented midterm gathering that seeks to mitigate tough election odds for Republicans.<\/p>\n
Trump promised attendees that he would campaign for competitive races across the country. The president said he will return to Texas to campaign for Attorney General Ken Paxton<\/a>, who\u2019s in a tight, high-profile race for U.S. Senate against Democrat James Talarico.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be coming back to Texas because we have to elect Ken Paxton,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n There could even be multiple visits, he said: \u201cIf I have to, I\u2019ll come back twice or three times.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking for nearly two hours, the president acknowledged that midterm years are often lackluster for the political party in the White House<\/a>. If Democrats perform well enough nationwide, they could take back control of Congress \u2014 a fate Republicans are working hard to avoid.<\/p>\n Democratic control of the House and Senate would effectively end any legislative agenda that Trump might want to pursue in his final two years. And it could expose him to investigations into his decisions on Iran, his family\u2019s finances and more, perhaps leading to an unprecedented third impeachment.<\/p>\n \u201cA vote for any Democrat this year, anywhere in the country, is a vote to let a small and dangerous group of extremists hold our Congress and our country hostage,\u201d Trump said. \u201cIf they win, every bill becomes a ransom negotiation.\u201d<\/p>\n He urged attendees to pretend he\u2019s on the ballot in November.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I\u2019m on the ticket, Republicans always do very well,\u201d the president said to an enthusiastic audience.<\/p>\n Trump identified 35 \u201cswing\u201d races nationwide that are neck-and-neck. The U.S. Senate races in Texas and Michigan where Democrats have nominated James Talarico and Abdul El-Sayed are two he highlighted.<\/p>\n \u201cFreedom-loving patriots of Texas are going to defeat Talafreako,\u201d Trump said using a moniker for the Democrat that Talarico has embraced in campaign merchandise.<\/p>\n If Republicans keep the majority in the House and the Senate, Trump promised to give every American adult a $5,000 dividend. The only caveat, he said, is that the money would have to be spent in the United States. The president did not mention where the $1.35 trillion required for the checks would come from.<\/p>\n The Texas Democratic Party held two news conferences as counter programming to the convention, where they highlighted their statewide candidates and said the Republicans are trying to suppress votes by closing polling locations.<\/p>\n The Democrats condemned Trump\u2019s and Gov. Greg Abbott\u2019s policies, saying they are working for billionaires, rigging elections and outsourcing American jobs.<\/p>\n A parade of Republican candidates and officeholders, including Paxton and several Texas congressional hopefuls<\/a>, preceded Trump on the stage in a rapid-fire event. It concludes Thursday with a speech from Vice President JD Vance and another Trump appearance.<\/p>\n The American Airlines arena was about two-thirds full, with many audience members garbed in MAGA gear and wearing red. Trump received a lengthy standing ovation as he took the stage around 8 p.m. Wednesday night.<\/p>\n Trump continually said the arena was \u201cpacked,\u201d though there were noticeable pockets of empty seats.<\/p>\n The president told the audience not to leave during his speech to use the bathroom, so their seats wouldn\u2019t be vacant and critics couldn\u2019t say that \u201c\u2018Trump did not fill up the arena.\u2019\u201c<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s remarks touted efforts to reduce crime, secure the border and address affordability concerns.<\/p>\n \u201cVote Republican, and we will leave the world in our dust for generations to come,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Near the end of his remarks, the president laid out a laundry list of policy promises that ranged from making \u201cTrump tax cuts\u201d permanent and stopping government payments to big insurance companies to banning \u201cmen in women\u2019s sports\u201d and passing the SAVE America act \u2014 voter-identification-related election legislation that has been a sticking point in the Senate.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is one of the most important elections of your lives, only superseded by our victories in 2016, 2020 and 2024,\u201d Trump said.<\/p>\n This story was originally published September 9, 2026 at 10:19 PM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n Eleanor Dearman<\/a><\/p>\n Fort Worth Star-Telegram<\/p>\n Eleanor (Elly) Dearman is a Texas politics and government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She\u2019s based in Austin, covering the Legislature and its impact on North Texas. She grew up in Denton and has been a reporter for more than six years.![\"Supporters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/FTW_21-AED_2026RepublicanConvention.JPG\" "\\"FTW_21-AED_2026RepublicanConvention.JPG\\"")
Supporters cheer for President Donald Trump before his keynote address on night one of the 2026 Republican Convention on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram <\/p>\n![\"President](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/FTW_26-AED_2026RepublicanConvention.JPG\" "\\"FTW_26-AED_2026RepublicanConvention.JPG\\"")
President Donald Trump gives the keynote address on night one of the 2026 Republican Convention on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram <\/p>\n![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/FTW_18-AED_2026RepublicanConvention.JPG\" "\\"FTW_18-AED_2026RepublicanConvention.JPG\\"")
People attend night one of the 2026 Republican Convention on Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026 at American Airlines Center in Dallas. Abigail Dollins Fort Worth Star-Telegram <\/p>\n
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