Trump to speak at both nights of RNC midterm convention

President Trump, who is already slated to speak on the first night of the Republican National Committee’s inaugural midterm convention in Dallas, will also close out the event’s second night, The Hill’s broadcast partner NewsNation confirmed Sunday.

Trump is set to give the first night’s keynote address and then give closing remarks the following evening. Vice President Vance will deliver the second night’s keynote speech.

The president previously said in August that he will be there both nights “and rarin’ to go.”

The event, described by RNC Chairman Joe Gruters as a “Trump-a-palooza,” lists more than 100 items on its programming list — including a showcase of candidates competing in key swing districts, as well as session on banning lawmakers from trading stock, federal immigration enforcement and breaking down differences between Republican and Democratic agendas.

The event will also feature speeches from Attorney General Todd Blanche, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Prominent Republicans including Senate candidate and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, House Speaker Mike Johnson (La.) and Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (Wyo.) will also be in attendance.

Other lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) will not attend, with the latter two opting to stay on the campaign trail in their respective states, Newsweek reported .

Several reports suggest some House members chose not to attend due to an alleged $25,000 minimum RNC donation requirement for lawmakers, with the highest tier asking for $100,000. Neither Trump nor convention officials have confirmed the existence of an event attendance fee.

Democrats are aiming to run counterprogramming in Texas as the event takes place. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) announced on Friday that a four-member House delegation will go to Dallas to highlight the differing visions of both parties.

“Americans are being crushed by rising costs. Republicans don’t care—they’re in Dallas, celebrating an out of touch President whose tariffs and wars are making things worse. We’re going to hold them accountable,” Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.) said on the social platform X.

Crow will be joined by Democratic Reps. Robert Garcia (Calif.), Madeleine Dean (Pa.) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (Calif.). They will partner with the Texas Democratic Party and local partners for their counterprogramming in Dallas.

NewsNation reported Sunday that Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder (D) will also be Democrats hosting events in Texas during the convention.

The GOP event will be held at a point when Republicans are seeking to maintain control of a Senate seat in Texas, as Paxton is set to face off against Talarico in one of the most contested races of this election cycle. It also comes after Texas was the first to redraw its congressional maps in Republicans’ favor following Trump’s request.

Democrats have retaliated against this by redrawing their districts, most notably in California. On Thursday, Maryland’s Supreme Court ruled that a Democrat-led redistricting referendum can go on the November ballot, locking in a major victory for Democrats in the Old Line State.