Donald Trump and Republicans are desperately trying to salvage their chances in the midterm elections, as Trump’s approval ratings sink to historic lows. Americans strongly disapprove of Trump and his agenda — and even Trump’s own supporters are desperately trying to distance themselves from his failed presidency.
Dozens of Republicans plan to skip the convention, and dozens more Republicans who were asked if they are attending the convention refused to provide a definitive answer.
Republicans are using this convention as a celebration for Trump’s own ego and a glorified fundraiser for their wealthy donors, with no actual business expected to be conducted and ticket prices reaching $20,000 in some states. Republicans were later forced to cut ticket prices after they failed to sell enough tickets, and even resorted to giving away tickets for free. Meanwhile, Democratic enthusiasm continues to surge, and new polling shows Democrats with a 10-point advantage over Republicans on party identification, the largest lead for either party since 2015.
In response, DNC Senior Advisor for Messaging, Mobilization and Strategy Tim Hogan released the following statement:
“Donald Trump and Republicans know they are headed for defeat in November, and no amount of pageantry will change the reality that Americans are fed up with Trump and Republicans and their disastrous agenda that has sent prices soaring. Americans don’t want a ‘Trump-a-palooza’: They want lower costs and better healthcare, and Democrats are prepared to deliver for working families when we retake the majority in November.”
See what Republicans are saying about Trump’s midterm convention below:
Politico: Republicans aren’t exactly flocking to Trump’s midterm convention
[Mia McCarthy, Meredith Lee Hill, and Jordain Carney, 9/2/2026]
“[A] POLITICO survey of more than 70 GOP candidates and members revealed that most either do not plan to attend or are still weighing whether to go. Dozens more declined to share their plans. […]
“And some Republicans in tough races are steering clear of the gathering — which has come to be called “Trump-a-palooza” in some GOP circles — as they face growing hesitation about associating themselves with the polarizing president so close to the election. […]
“With Trump front and center at the convention, some Republicans are privately fretting about slipping presidential approval ratings in their districts amid the ongoing conflict in Iran, a trade war with Canada and rising prices from both. Other moves by the administration, such as a deal tackling beef imports to address affordability, have angered other key GOP constituencies.
“One House Republican not attending the convention who was granted anonymity to speak candidly called the event ‘a waste of time’ and said the planning has been ‘a mess.’”
The Daily Beast: Republicans Panic as Trump Becomes Midterm ‘Ball and Chain’
[Annabella Rosciglione, 9/6/2026]
“Republicans are panicking about the forthcoming midterm elections, as the party is expected to see a wipeout at the ballot box, and President Donald Trump doesn’t appear to be helping.
“After tying themselves to Trump for over a decade now, some Republicans now fear that they have little room to distance themselves from the increasingly unpopular president. […]
“Still, several Republicans in tight districts are forgoing attending the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas next week, with only two Republicans in tough House races confirmed to be headed to Texas. […]
“A growing number of Republicans —including those in safely Republican districts — have also deleted references to Trump on their campaign website, including candidates whom Trump has endorsed. Recent polling could explain why Republican candidates are so hesitant to associate with Trump.”
The Hill: Vulnerable Republicans divided over wisdom of Trump’s midterm convention
[Alexander Bolton, 9/8/2026]
“Republican senators and candidates have mixed feelings about President Trump’s midterm election convention, with many hoping that Trump can rev up millions of MAGA voters but worried of being tied to a president with a slumping approval rating. […]
“‘Trump is an absolute albatross for Republicans running in tight races because he promised to focus on the economy and keep us out of foreign wars and the exact opposite has happened,’ said a senior Republican strategist who requested anonymity to talk about Trump’s impact on the election.”
The New York Times: As Midterms Approach, Republicans Find There Is No Escape From Trump
[Annie Karni, Reid J. Epstein and Luke Broadwater, 9/6/2026]
“Many vulnerable Republicans are steering clear of this week’s convention, choosing instead to spend time campaigning in their states and districts. And while some see a benefit in the confab as a way to raise money for the party — tickets cost $25,000, including for lawmakers — they also worry that it will do exactly what candidates most want to avoid: turn the election into a national conversation about Mr. Trump. […]
“But some Republicans fear the party has little to campaign on after two years that have yielded few legislative achievements and a spare congressional schedule that involved weeks on end at home. Some of Mr. Trump’s moves, they argue, have made things worse.
“‘I’m fearful that the president’s numbers are a ball and chain that will be hard to overcome,’ said Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, a moderate Republican who is not running for re-election in his battleground district. ‘I’m worried that we’ve lost a lot of our swing voters. In the Midwest, tariffs aren’t popular. Ukraine polls at 70 percent — why aren’t we doing more for them? Nebraskans don’t like chaos and all the name calling and treating our allies bad.’” […]
“A handful of vulnerable Republicans have sought to carefully create some distance between themselves and Mr. Trump. Unlike previous presidents who have made themselves scarce when politics demanded it, Mr. Trump has not made it easy. […]
“A handful of other Republicans, including the party’s nominees for governor of Georgia and Maine and several running for Congress, have quietly scrubbed photos of Mr. Trump from their campaign websites or removed mentions of his endorsement — which they were happy to promote during primary contests.”
MS NOW: Some vulnerable Hill Republicans ditch Trump’s midterm convention
[Sydney Carruth and Hannah Marr, 9/3/2026]
“The members skipping Dallas have reasons beyond their calendars. Trump’s trade war with Canada has pushed up prices, and his decision to boost imports of foreign ground beef, intended to bring down grocery costs, has drawn backlash across the agricultural Midwest.
“Plus, the invitation is not free. House Republicans are expected to give at least $25,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee to get a ticket. What that buys is the opportunity to rub elbows with some of the GOP’s biggest donors and to please Trump, whose MAGA Inc. super PAC has amassed more than $400 million and has yet to spend almost any of it. Some Republican leaders have grown skeptical that Trump’s cash, even if deployed, will significantly change their party’s odds this close to Election Day.”
CNN: Republicans privately worry that their ‘Trumpapalooza’ convention will be a bust
[Adam Cancryn and Kristen Holmes, 8/27/2026]
“[A]s the two-day extravaganza approaches, Republicans are privately questioning if it strikes the right tone amid the electorate’s tightening budgets — and the wisdom of diverting candidates from their districts just weeks out from Election Day.
“Further compounding concerns: expensive entrance fees for lawmakers, competing events like the start of the NFL season and 9/11 commemorations and some state parties struggling to drum up enthusiasm with their members.
“And then there’s the overarching fear — that an event once dubbed “Trumpapalooza” will indeed end up being far more about promoting the president than the candidates who are actually on the ballot.
“‘I don’t understand the programming still. It seems to just be five hours of speeches,’ said one GOP donor, adding that they were mainly approaching the convention as a networking event.”
The Independent: Republicans blast out ‘free tickets’ offer to save Trump from Dallas convention embarrassment
[Andrew Feinberg, 9/7/2026]
“The RNC has found itself in a tricky spot after building the event around Trump, whose approval rating is the lowest of his political career. A number of Republicans have also decided to skip the convention rather than be seen on camera celebrating an unpopular president who could drag down their prospects of re-election. […]
“A text message sent to party donors as recently as last week encouraged them to ask for ‘FREE TICKETS,’ while some GOP operatives were told last week that there are still seats available for the event. Donors who click on the text message link were entered into a lottery that would also bestow a front-row seat upon one lucky winner. […]
“But many of the higher-profile potential attendees have already made public plans to skip the entire thing, with some balking at the $25,000 cost of attending and others annoyed at the prospect of spending days away from the campaign trail for what will amount to a multi-day rally for someone who will never appear on a ballot again.”
