President Donald Trump speaks on stage on the second day of the 2026 Republican National Convention at the American Airlines Center on Sept. 10, 2026 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and Republicans wrapped up their two-day midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday night, urging voters to ensure the party has another two years with unified control of government.
Speakers, many vying for seats in Congress, insisted Democrats regaining power would be disastrous for the country, some going as far as implying they’d lead to the nation’s downfall.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said the results of the elections “will determine the fate of our Republic and the future for our children and our grandchildren.”
He argued that the GOP maintaining control of both chambers represents the best way to address border security, crime, defense and economic concerns, though he didn’t detail any specific bills he’d try to enact during the next two years.
Johnson didn’t bring up the war in Iran or rising gas prices during his speech, but did say he doesn’t intend to let Democrats flip the House from red to blue next year.
“We cannot and will not allow them to take the majority of the Congress,” he said. “We’re not going to do it.”
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at length about his family’s history as Democratic leaders and how the party has evolved since the 1960s.
Standing in front of an electronic backdrop displaying a farm field and the “Make America Health Again” slogan, Kennedy’s speech focused predominantly on his experiences and Trump.
The vast majority of his 25-minute speech didn’t address the campaigns for Congress, with Kennedy only mentioning the fight for control of the House and Senate in two sentences at the end.
“We need to elect a Republican Congress to keep this momentum going,” he said. “Let’s go out and do that.”
Vice President JD Vance spoke just before Trump arrived on stage.
‘I am on the ballot’
Trump closed out the convention with his second speech in two days, urging Republicans to vote in the midterm elections so the party could make additional changes to immigration and implement nationwide changes to voter identification requirements.
“On Election Day, Nov. 3, you got to do me a favor, you got to get out and vote,” he said. “And you’re going to pretend I’m on the ballot because, in a way, I am on the ballot.”
He then had everyone in the stadium raise their right hand to recite a pledge to vote that included comments about cheating. He then said anyone who didn’t vote would go to hell.
Trump didn’t mention specific candidates much during his speech but did recognize Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is seeking the state’s U.S. Senate seat.
Trump said he didn’t like the way Paxton dresses, talks, or looks, but urged Republicans in the state to vote for him during the general election.
“I don’t know if he’s going to ever speak to me again, but you know I don’t care as long as he wins,” he said. “I really don’t. I don’t know. I don’t have to speak to him. He’s going to vote the way we would vote, so I don’t have to speak to him. I don’t care. You got to vote for him.”
After speaking for about 25 minutes, Trump introduced opera singer Christopher Macchio to perform “America the Beautiful” and “All I Ask of You” from “Phantom of the Opera” as balloons fell from the ceiling.