A Trump lacking popularity begins the race for the midterm elections

WashingtonOne more eccentricity from the party leader. This Wednesday and Thursday, Republican legislators and Trumpist followers are gathering in Dallas (Texas) to attend the Republican convention that Donald Trump has devised to boost the party with less than two months to go until the midterm elections. But the programming of the historic event—it is the first one the Republicans are holding for midterms— points in another direction: the American president will be the headliner and will give the main speech of the two days. Not even in Milwaukee, despite having just survived the attack in Butler, did Trump hog the microphone so much.

The convention kicks off some midterms that were already difficult for Republicans before Trump embarked on the Iran war. The tycoon began 2026 with his popularity on the ground, and the curve has only gone down as the months of the calendar have passed. After intervening militarily in Venezuela in January, the American president told his legislators that if they lost control of Congress this November, it would be their fault. "I would like you to explain to me what the hell is going on in people's heads," Trump told them, who since then has not exactly made the task easier for his candidates. The complacent laughter shown by those present that day at the Kennedy Center has been blurring into a nervous grimace in the face of every new unilateral decision by Trump.

The Iran war—which was supposed to be a four-week "excursion"— is at the top of a long list of unilateral decisions by the American president, but it is not the only one. At the end of August, the Republican was once again punishing his rural base by announcing that he would import 300,000 tons of beef tariff-free in order to try to curb rising prices.

If it wasn't enough to infuriate the ranchers, who have been in dire straits for months due to the trade war, Trump also refused to reveal the origin of the meat and placed the consumer in an almost humiliating dilemma: buy the cheaper product without knowing where it comes from or what sanitary controls it has passed, or resign themselves to paying more to have a certain peace of mind. This summer, the Republican also refused to sign a bipartisan law intended to help alleviate the housing crises that Americans are suffering.

The contrast with golden Washington

While half of Americans say they have trouble filling their shopping basket or the car's gas tank, the president has dedicated himself with great attention to "beautifying" the capital. One of the details that has most surprised the inhabitants of Washington this summer has been discovering that the equestrian statues that guard one of the bridges near the Lincoln Memorial have been coated with a 23-karat gold layer. A project that has cost about five million dollars, according to the federal register. A bargain if compared with the bill for the reflecting pool: the work to paint its bottom, and repaint it after the initial fiasco, has already cost more than sixteen million to the public coffers.

Far from giving air to some close races, Trump's thirst for the spotlight could end up damaging Republican candidates. The historic peak of unpopularity experienced by the American president has become the main burden for the party this November. Many know this, and for that reason, they do not plan to stop by the covert tribute the leader has decided to set up for himself. Between 50 and 70 candidates, mostly from battleground states, have revealed to Politico and the CBS network that they do not intend to go. Some have alleged that they have other more important local events, others have alluded to personal matters, such as weddings or family events. Any excuse is good to avoid what some Republicans have internally labeled as "Trump's party".

Last week, the speaker of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, denied that it could be harmful for some candidates to attend in Dallas. "It was the president's idea, and that is why he gets the credit, and rightly so," said Johnson. "I think it will be an extraordinary opportunity for us to have two nights on national television to talk about our extraordinary record of successes." Johnson is not risking his seat on November 3rd and will attend the convention. Vice President J.D. Vance; Attorney General Todd Blanche, and former press secretary Karoline Leavitt are some of the other names already confirmed.

A few hours before the speeches begin, many Republicans hope that Trump will focus more on attacking the Democrats than on talking about himself. The main target of the American president right now is the rise of the left wing of the Democratic Party during the primary process, thanks to a message focused on the cost of living. For months, the Republican has been branding the candidates of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and other progressives, such as Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. El-Sayed's rival for the Michigan Senate seat, Mike Rogers, will be one of the few candidates to take the stage during the convention. The Texas candidate, Ken Paxton, who is competing for the upper house against Democrat James Talarico, will also do so. The Presbyterian pastor from Austin has achieved a milestone unthinkable for any Democrat in recent years: turning an election in the quintessential Republican state into a competitive race.