|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
by MARK POWELL
***
Let’s face it: most folks in South Carolina are suffering from political fatigue at the moment. And who can blame them? In the last four months, we’ve gone through a grueling gubernatorial campaign; a contentious runoff for the GOP nomination; the unexpected death of our state’s senior U.S. senator; another (albeit abbreviated) grueling race to replace him on November’s ballot; and yet another grueling runoff.
All within ten weeks, no less.
There’s no rest for the weary this year, though, because president Donald Trump and the Republican National Committee (RNC) are filling the void with something new: the “2026 Republican Midterm Convention.” This showy gathering is being held Tuesday and Wednesday (September 8-9, 2026) at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
“Don’t let the word ‘convention’ in the title fool you,” a national GOP pollster in Washington confided to us. “Think of it as a two-night infomercial more than a traditional party gathering. You could also call it ‘The Donald Trump Show,’ because that’s what it’s going to be. Two nights of Trump and friends.”
***
Faced with dismal polling for Trump personally – and lackluster polling at best for the Republican brand – GOP leaders are hoping the event will add a little juice to their beleaguered standing ahead of this fall’s midterm elections.
“Trump calls himself a developer,” the pollster continued. “But in reality, he’s a showman. It’s what he does best. So with many Republican candidates around the country encountering strong headwinds, he’s responding with a show.”
The convention has three main goals: 1) to convince viewers the Trump Administration is working hard on their behalf; 2) to frame Democrats as socialist extremists; 3) to bolster individual House and Senate candidates, especially those competing in swing states or swing districts.
That last point, in particular, is helping balloon the number of expected speakers to nearly 110 – fifty-three (53) on Tuesday night and fifty-six (56) on Wednesday.
“It’s going to be a MAGA cattle call,” the pollster moaned.
***
RELATED | THE IRAN WAR IS BACK
***
The lineup includes luminaries you would expect to find at such a gathering: vice president JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, health czar Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., former White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, and many more. Republican congressional leadership will be well represented by the likes of House Speaker Mike Johnson and South Carolina’s own U.S. senator, Tim Scott.
They’ll be joined by nearly two dozen elected officials, and many more who are hoping to join them in November.
Perhaps what’s most interesting is who won’t be attending. Confirmed no-shows include first lady Melania Trump, (sparking a fresh round of speculation about the state of the presidential marriage), outgoing incumbent Texas senator John Cronyn, whose crushing defeat for renomination in this spring’s Republican primary to Lone Star attorney general Ken Paxton resulted in a vineyard-sized case of sour grapes; and incumbent U.S. senator Susan Collins.
Collins is no friend of Trump during the best of times, but given that’s she’s currently locked in a heated reelection campaign she doesn’t dare risk being within extended radar range of him.
***
Are you ready for Dallas?
— Republicans (@Republicans) September 7, 2026
??? https://t.co/ycwhK5rNUn pic.twitter.com/hFE007K8Cf
***
Also missing: non-politics VIPs. Organizers had previously suggested star athletes and entertainers would be on hand. But as of last word, no names have been officially announced. It’s widely speculated that reliable Trump stalwarts such as actor Dennis Quaid, UFC president Dana White and musician Kid Rock could show up. And obviously Lee Greenwood can still be counted on for one more round of his signature 80s anthem “God Bless the USA.”
No word yet whether any celebrities from this century will be participating…
One thing viewers can count on for certain is a double-barrel dose of Trump – with the president expected to deliver the grand finale on both nights.
“That’s the beauty of putting on your own show,” the pollster concluded. “You get to save the best spot for yourself.”
Will any of it move voters, though?
With gas prices soaring, the national debt at historic levels and an unpopular war in Iran devolving into a quagmire, Trump and the GOP will eventually need to bring more than showmanship to the table if they hope to turn their political fortunes around.
***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR…
J. Mark Powell is an award-winning former TV journalist, government communications veteran, and a political consultant. He is also an author and an avid Civil War enthusiast. Got a tip or a story idea for Mark? Email him at mark@fitsnews.com.
***
SOUND OFF…
Got something you’d like to say in response to one of our articles? Or an issue you’d like to address proactively? We have an open microphone policy! Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. Got a tip for a story? CLICK HERE. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? CLICK HERE.
