Trump shakes up RNC midterm convention schedule, says he’ll speak on night one

President Trump is set to speak on Night 1 of the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) Midterm Convention in Dallas on Sept. 9.

“The Greatest RALLY of them all,” Trump wrote in a Friday Truth Social post. “I’ll be speaking on night one, and hanging around for an earlier closing, and lots of music, on night two!!! See you in Dallas.”

Vice President J.D. Vance was originally scheduled to deliver the keynote address for night one, with President Trump capping off night two. It’s unclear how the president’s announcement will affect the previously announced schedule.

Trump had previously hinted in an August statement that he would “be with you both nights.”

The first-of-its-kind convention is expected to have Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is running for Senate in the Lone Star State, in attendance.

Other Republican politicians stated they could not attend – including Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) saying he could no longer attend as campaign events were added to his schedule and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) instead meeting with constituents that weekend, according to Newsweek .

The convention shakeup comes as a GOP operative tells the Hill that while Trump has been touting the event for a year, because it was only announced in late June, candidates and incumbents have not been given nearly as much time to plan their participation.

“Lot of things made this very hasty that didn’t need to happen,” the operative said.

Some House members are opting to not attend the convention due to a reported $25,000 in minimum expected contributions, with the highest tier asking for $100,000.

The programming for the event lists over 100 items the RNC will cover such as “Education & Parental Rights” and a panel of Republican candidates campaigning in swing districts across the country.

The RNC will also be “honoring Charlie Kirk’s impact on American youth and converting that legacy into a call to mobilize voters,” on the same day that the political commentator was killed a year ago.