Trump gives keynote at first GOP midterm convention
This version of Rcrd120049 - Politics and Government | NBC News Clone was adapted by NBC News Clone to help readers digest key facts more efficiently.
In Rhode Island, Democratic Gov. Dan McKee lost his re-election bid today in the second-to-last primary of 2026.
What to know today
- GOP MIDTERM CONVENTION: Republicans kicked off their first midterm election convention in Dallas today, with President Donald Trump delivering the keynote address.
- PARTIAL ATTENDANCE: According to an NBC News count, dozens of Republicans in tight races have said they won't attend the GOP convention, which has been billed as "Trump-a-palooza."
- FETTERMAN VIDEO: Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., appeared in a video at the convention tonight introducing Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa.
- RHODE ISLAND PRIMARIES: Democratic Gov. Dan McKee became the first sitting governor in the country to lose a primary in eight years. He failed to fend off challenger Helena Foulkes, a wealthy former CVS executive.
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Trump mentioned 171 times on Night 1 of GOP convention
The GOP midterm convention, billed as “Trump-a-palooza,” lived up to its name on Night 1.
Speakers mentioned his name 155 times from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. During his keynote speech, Trump invoked his own name 16 times, bringing the total to 171.
The only other word mentioned more were variations of “America.”
Trump finishes speaking
Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images
Trump has finished his speech at the GOP midterm convention. He spoke for almost an hour and 45 minutes.
Crowd chants for Charlie Kirk as Trump remembers assassination anniversary
After Trump recognized tomorrow's anniversary of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, the crowd in the convention center broke out into chants of "Charlie, Charlie."
"So, exactly one year ago tomorrow, a far-left extremist assassinated my great friend in conservative voice, Charlie Kirk, because Charlie Kirk spoke the truth," Trump said, also recognizing that Kirk's wife, Erika Kirk, was in attendance tonight.
Trump reiterated his claims last year that the "radical left" was to blame for Kirk's death.
"What shocked millions of Americans was not only the fact that Charlie was murdered as bad as it was, but also how many people made an excuse for it or cheered for it. They were cheering," Trump said. "Some people, sick people, for a brief moment, the mask came off the radical left, and you saw what they were really all about."
He added that "now those same people are trying to get power over you in this election, and they are all voting Democrat."
Trump condemned the "radical left" even though he has himself celebrated the deaths of political figures.
Following the death in March of Robert Mueller, who was FBI director and later the special counsel overseeing the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “Robert Mueller just died. Good, I’m glad he’s dead. He can no longer hurt innocent people!”
Trump attacks Abdul El-Sayed's mother and sister
Trump went after Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s sister and mother in his remarks tonight.
He claimed that El-Sayed’s sister “celebrated” on Oct. 7, 2023. In a 2024 video, El-Sayed’s half sister, Eman Abdelhadi, gave a “blessing” on the first anniversary of Oct. 7. It was posted on Instagram by the “Rabbis4Ceasefire” account.
He also said El-Sayed's mother worked for an organization that gave money to Osama bin Laden. El-Sayed’s mother reportedly used to work for the Islamic American Relief Agency, which the Treasury Department later sanctioned for supporting terrorism, including providing support to bin Laden and Hamas.
El-Sayed’s campaign told the fact-checking site Snopes that his mother was “working to help orphaned children” and that she was “never accused of any wrongdoing and was not charged or named as a defendant” in indictments surrounding the organization.
Trump claims, with little detail, that U.S. adults will get $5K if Republicans win the midterms
Trump said tonight that every adult U.S. citizen would receive a $5,000 "dividend" if Republicans win both the House and the Senate in November.
"Here is my promise: If the Republicans win the House of Representatives and the United States Senate, both of them, because of our economic, tremendous economic success, I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000," he said.
Trump, who has made a similar promise before, added that the "only condition" is that it must be spent in the U.S.
"We don’t want you going to Canada to spend the money. We don’t want you going to China to Germany," Trump said. "You got to spend the money in the United States of America."
The White House did not immediately respond to questions about where the estimated $1.35 trillion would come from and how the requirement to spend in the U.S. could be enforced.
Trump added that he would call it "the Trump dividend."
"So if the Republicans win, you win with us, and you get $5,000," Trump said as the crowd cheered.
After Trump's remarks, Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, appeared to suggest that the president doesn't have the authority to unilaterally disburse the proposed dividend by saying he would introduce legislation on it.
"I will get a bill ready so that we can get the Trump Dividend passed immediately after the November 3rd election … because Republicans (and America) will win!" Moreno wrote on X.
Trump’s Iran war timeline goes from 1 month to more than 8 months
Trump again said the Iran war will be over right after Election Day, claiming the country would not want to deal with a Republican-controlled government again.
If Trump’s promise were to come true, it would put the duration of the war at a little over eight months. That would be in contrast to Trump’s original promise when the war started, when he claimed the war would end in four to six weeks.
Crowd boos Sen. John Thune as Trump praises him
Trump shouted out Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., in his speech, prompting the crowd to respond with a wave of boos.
"John Thune is here from the Senate. Where’s John? Where’s John?" Trump said as the crowd called out with boos.
"No, no. John is, John is working hard. He’s got great opposition. He’s got great opposition from the Democrat Schumer and these guys," Trump said in an attempt to quell the booing.
Trump has pressured Thune for months to end the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act — a bill Trump claims is needed to secure elections — which Thune has refused to do.
John Fetterman defends remarks at GOP convention, calls himself 'a lifelong Democrat'
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman defended his video remarks at the GOP midterm convention in a statement tonight, saying he introduced Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., “as a great American and friend.”
Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images
“We are in different parties, but we are both Team PA,” Fetterman said.
Fetterman was the subject of criticism following his virtual appearance at the convention.
“I’m a lifelong Democrat who votes overwhelmingly with my party—and should the Senate flip in November, I will still be the 51st vote that I ran on,” he added.
Trump takes digs at Ken Paxton while encouraging Republicans to vote for him
As he was making the case for Ken Paxton, Trump strayed from his message to make fun of the Texas GOP Senate candidate’s looks, speech and style.
“I have to say this about Ken — it’s so insulting, and I hope he doesn’t get insulted,” Trump said. “Some may not like the way he dresses — I don’t. Although tonight he looked very spiffy in his blue suit, I must tell you. But they may not like the way he talks. I can see that, you know.”
“He may not talk exactly perfectly, and he may not be the best-looking guy I’ve ever seen. But you know what he is? He’s the greatest attorney general in America, and he deserves to be your next senator,” Trump said. “I’m sorry, Ken.”
Trump added his “analysts that get a lot of money for telling me a lot of nonsense” had advised him not to make the comments, but “I got to say it again.”
Trump has poked fun at Paxton's style before. Asked about the comments on Fox News, Paxton shrugged them off, saying Texas is a "relatively casual place."
Trump reiterates he will stump in 35 midterm races
Trump tonight repeated his vow to go on the road and campaign for Republican candidates in 35 races before the midterm elections.
"They might be winning by a little or losing by a little or tied. We can win every one of those races, but I’m going to go to every one of those states for congressmen and for senators," Trump said.
He said he'll hold rallies, and in some cases tele-rallies, to support the candidates in about 35 races.
"In a couple of cases, I’ll go twice," Trump said. "And I’ll be coming back to Texas, because we have to elect Ken Paxton."
Trump first said he would campaign in 35 races at a dinner event at the White House last week. During that speech, he specifically mentioned Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's bid for a Senate seat.
Trump encourages voters to 'pretend' he's on the ballot in November
Trump once again encouraged Republicans to pretend he’s on the ballot when they cast their votes this fall.
“I’m asking you to pretend that I’m on the ballot,” Trump said. “Just one more time, because if we lose, you’re going to lose your border. You’re going to lose your tax cuts. You’re going to lose your safety and security. You’re going to lose your wealth.”
Trump's comments come as some Republicans in competitive races have skipped the convention as Trump’s approval ratings sink.
Trump falsely claims he won the presidency three times
Trump told the crowd in Dallas that he has won three presidential elections, alluding to his longtime claim, without evidence, that he won the 2020 election.
"When I’m on the ticket, Republicans always do very well," Trump said. "We won the presidency three times."
Trump says it's the first ever midterm convention. Democrats have held them before.
Trump claimed tonight that this is the "first-ever midterm convention of any party."
Democrats have held midterm conventions before, hosting one in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1974, and another one in Memphis in 1978. The one in 1978 was attended by President Jimmy Carter, who delivered remarks.
As Trump begins his speech, hundreds of seats remain empty
When Trump took the convention stage tonight, hundreds of seats — mostly in the uppermost level of American Airlines Center — were unfilled.
Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images
Brandon Bell / Getty Images
The arena, which hosts professional basketball and hockey games, seats about 19,000. Hundreds of state delegates are seated on the floor, with other guests in the general seating areas.
Trump insisted in his remarks that "this place is packed."
Trump takes the stage
Andrew Harnik / Getty Images
Trump has walked out to the stage at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas.
By the numbers: The most name-checked Democrats at the GOP midterm convention
The most mentioned Democrat on the first night of the GOP midterm convention is former President Joe Biden and his administration, receiving 27 mentions so far.
Biden is followed by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, with 15 call-outs, and Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia, with eight. Former Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Michigan Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed have each been mentioned seven times.
James Talarico of Texas has received six mentions, while California Gov. Gavin Newsom has gotten five name-checks and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez of New York has three.
Multiple GOP convention speakers take aim at Hasan Piker
Multiple speakers have already called out the left-wing Twitch streamer Hasan Piker at the GOP convention tonight.
At one point, Piker was even shown in his underwear as part of a reel played at the convention.
Piker has come under fire in a number of midterm races, including in Michigan, where he has campaigned alongside Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed. Republicans and some Democrats have criticized Piker for a number of controversial statements, including his having said in 2019 that America “deserved” the Sept. 11. Piker later called the remark “inappropriate” and has said he was trying to make a more nuanced point about American foreign policy.
Bernie Sanders-endorsed challenger defeats Providence mayor in a Democratic primary
Providence, Rhode Island, Mayor Brett Smiley lost his Democratic primary, NBC News projects, with state Rep. David Morales, a Bernie Sanders-endorsed democratic socialist, prevailing.
A primary night rarity
It's not often that a sitting governor loses a primary, as McKee did tonight in Rhode Island.
The last time it happened was in 2018, when Kansas Republican Jeff Colyer lost to Trump-backed Kris Kobach.
The last time a Democratic governor fell in a primary came in Hawaii in 2014, when David Ige defeated incumbent Neil Abercrombie by 35 points.
And the last time a Rhode Island governor lost renomination? In 1994, when Democrat Bruce Sundlun lost to Myrth York.
Cabinet secretaries get warm welcome at convention
Cabinet secretaries speaking tonight at the Republican convention have drawn some of the loudest applause. Attorney General Todd Blanche was greeted by a huge chorus of cheers. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who just took the stage, got an even louder welcome.
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee loses Democratic primary to businesswoman Helena Foulkes
Helena Foulkes wins the Democratic primary for Rhode Island governor, NBC News projects.
Gov. Dan McKee has lost his Democratic primary to Foulkes, a former CVS executive, NBC News projects, after having faced a significant spending disadvantage and voter discontent with his tenure.
In an election season that has seen a wave of anti-incumbent energy, McKee becomes the first governor to fall in a primary this year — and the first in eight years.
First votes reported in Rhode Island's primary
Polls closed at 8 p.m. ET in Rhode Island, and the votes are rolling in. Foulkes has opened up a lead over McKee in the initial results.
Attorney General Todd Blanche listed on screen at the convention as a 'former federal prosecutor'
Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
Attorney General Todd Blanche took the stage for his address at the Republicans’ midterm convention today to loud cheers. Notably, he was listed on screen as a “former federal prosecutor.” Traditionally, a sitting attorney general would not deliver an explicitly political speech in a setting such as a party convention.
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman says he is 'always going to stand with America' in video at GOP convention
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., spoke to the crowd at the GOP midterm convention through a video recording this evening, praising his Republican colleague, Sen. Dave McCormick.
"Yes, I’m a Democrat. Why am I here talking to you today?" Fetterman said in the video. "Because, well, I’m a commonsense Democrat. I’m always going to stand with America. I’m always going to reject the extremes and socialism and that anti-American way of life."
The crowd seemed surprised to see Fetterman, reacting with some confusion as the video played.
Fetterman said McCormick "is the kind of senator that gets the job done" and praised his work for the steel industry.
Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images
"We’ll work with President Trump to fight and defend the steel way of life right here in the Steel Valley," Fetterman said before he introduced McCormick to the stage, calling him "my great friend."
Separately, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., praised Fetterman on Fox News, calling him "an example of common sense."
"He does not side with the radical leftists, the insurgent left that’s taken over that party," Johnson said, adding that Democrats are "turning to attack him every day."
"They’re trying to push him out of the party. He really doesn’t have a place right now," Johnson said. "I’m glad that he’s bold enough to stand for common sense."
Johnson's comments echo Republicans' messaging, spearheaded by Trump, going into the midterm elections that the Democratic Party has been overpowered by "communist" candidates.
Sen. Jon Husted's attack on Sherrod Brown comes with a catch
Sen. Jon Husted, who just addressed the Republican convention, is the last of a particular breed in Ohio politics. He is, unlike the last two GOP senators his state elected, a career politician, having held one elected office or another for the last 25 years.
It’s a fact that makes Husted’s core argument against his Democratic rival, former Sen. Sherrod Brown, somewhat tricky. Husted often attacks Brown for his 52 years in politics. Husted, who noted in his speech that he was 7 years old when Brown was first elected to office, is nearly halfway to that mark.
Husted and Brown are running to serve the two years left in Vice President JD Vance’s Senate term. Vance, a former venture capitalist and bestselling author, won the seat in 2022 in his first run for office. Two years later, another political newcomer, car dealer Bernie Moreno, beat Brown in his re-election bid.
Coincidentally, Vance and Moreno both served on the board of InnovateOhio, the tech-focused agency Husted led as Ohio’s lieutenant governor. Another alum of that board: businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, the GOP nominee for governor this year.
That job, in the eyes of some Republicans nervous about the Senate race, is one Husted prefers.
Ken Paxton tells voters if Republicans lose in Texas, 'we lose America'
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton used his time on the GOP midterm convention stage to warn voters that "if we lose Texas," they will "lose America."
Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images
"I will fight to preserve the American Dream. James Talarico is running to destroy it," Paxton said, adding that his Democratic opponent "is the most radical Democrat in Texas history."
"But he’s also the most well-funded, and that’s why today I need your prayers, your votes and your support," he continued. "If we lose Texas, we lose the common-sense revolution. If we lose this revolution, we lose America."
Despite his fighting words, Paxton's speech offered little energy from the stage, particularly compared with other speakers that have riled up the crowd this evening.
Paxton's speech illustrated one of the reasons so many GOP strategists have been concerned about his candidacy and have appealed for a huge influx of cash to prop him up across the state with ads.
Democratic Sen. John Fetterman to appear in video at GOP convention
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa. Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., is expected to appear in a video at the GOP convention tonight praising Trump and Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., according to a source familiar with the matter.
The Republican National Committee declined to confirm, saying “stay tuned.”
Axios first reported the plans.
An appearance from Fetterman could damage his already fractured relationship with the Democratic Party.
GOP congressman says Congress needs to take warnings about AI ending humanity 'seriously'
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., said Congress must take warnings from AI engineers that the technology might trigger human extinction “seriously.”
Lawler, who is running in one of a shrinking number of battleground House districts, told NBC News at the Republican midterm convention in Dallas today that lawmakers must focus attention on “the methods by which” AI “is being developed and how quickly it is moving.” He pointed to legislation he introduced with Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., this week aimed at reining in “rogue" AI agents.
Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images file
“Any of the concerns that are raised by these engineers or others within the space is certainly something that Congress has to take seriously,” Lawler said. “This has to be a top priority for Congress over the next two years. And I also think it’s imperative that the AI companies and big tech are extremely transparent and extremely forthcoming in explaining this to the American people.”
“Oftentimes, you know, this is where there’s a disconnect sometimes between industry and the American people, and I think communication is going to be critical here, and I think there needs to be a level of openness and transparency with Congress as we work through the regulatory framework,” he continued.
Lawler was responding to a warning issued by a former engineer at Anthropic, Jacob Coxon, who wrote to colleagues as he was leaving the company “that without international coordination we will incur a risk of causing human extinction.” The concerns center on AI's developing in a manner that becomes increasingly hard for humans to control.
“I’ve recently become more concerned about the degree and imminence of this risk,” Coxon wrote. “I also find myself viscerally fearing the intelligence explosion where previously those concerns were unemotional.”
Hours later, Coxon posted on X, “No other human activity poses this level of danger.”
Anthropic did not immediately respond to a request for comment. It has previously offered stark warnings about what an AI-fueled future could look like while also promoting its own safety measures and perspective on building the technology. Responding to Coxon on X, Evan Hubinger said: “We really do earnestly believe AI could kill all humans!”
“I personally think it is >10% within the next decade,” he said. “I believe Anthropic is trying its best, but we do not yet have a plan to solve alignment for superintelligence and are not clearly on track to.”
Melania Trump talks about White House architecture at White House Historical Association event
First lady Melania Trump spoke today at a White House Historical Association event, calling the White House “an architectural autobiography of America.”
“Generation after generation, America’s ideals and stories are woven directly into the fabric of the White House,” Trump said in the White House Rose Garden.
Trump talked about the work she has done to renovate and maintain the White House as first lady, pointing to the construction of the Tennis Pavilion and other projects.
Her comments come amid President Donald Trump focuses on renovating the White House as he seeks to build a ballroom and a helipad on the grounds, among other projects.
Tim Scott takes aim at Democratic Senate candidates in energetic address.
Tim Scott is such a better campaigner for others than he ever was for himself. So much energy onstage right now as he goes after James Talarico, Jon Ossoff and Sherrod Brown. This high-energy, aggressive version of Scott never really showed up on the presidential campaign trail.
Missouri redistricting fight heads back to Supreme Court
The no-holds-barred redistricting fight in Missouri has returned to the U.S. Supreme Court for the second time, with opponents of a new GOP-drawn congressional map urgently asking the justices to prevent it from being used in the midterm elections.
The Missouri Supreme Court is considering holding Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins in contempt. David A. Lieb / AP file
At issue is how to resolve two competing rulings, with the Missouri Supreme Court finding last week that the new map could not be used based on state law while a voter referendum that could veto it moves forward. The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday declined to block the state court ruling.
But in a separate case, a federal court yesterday ruled that the new map must be used in order to prevent violations of the U.S. Constitution, raising questions that were not put to the U.S. Supreme Court in the state case.
The Missouri Supreme Court has also opened a contempt probe into Secretary of State Denny Hoskins. A hearing is set for tomorrow morning.
Military personnel accidentally triggered an inflatable slide on Air Force One
Military personnel accidentally triggered an inflatable slide attached to Trump's Qatar-donated Air Force One today, a person briefed on the matter told NBC News.
Luis M. Alvarez / AP
The slide inflated just before Trump was set to board the plane and head to Dallas for the GOP midterm convention. As officials looked at the slide, Trump exited Marine One on the tarmac and told reporters that they were just "checking the slide."
“As the President has said, the slide was checked out to make sure everything works perfectly," White House communications director Steven Chueng said later in a statement. "Air Force One is on its way to Dallas so he can deliver his much-anticipated speech to a raucous and sold-out crowd.”
U.S. Air Force One crew members look at an inflatable slide after it deployed on Air Force One before President Donald Trump arrived to board at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Luis M. Alvarez / AP
Trump told reporters before he boarded that there were no security concerns.
“No, they were checking it before, and they just wanted to make sure. So they’ve — I guess they’ve already put it up. They want to make sure everything works perfectly," he said.
Jacquelyn Martin / AP
Asked again whether he believed the plane was safe to fly, Trump chuckled and said, "Yeah, I am or I wouldn't be on it."
The plane landed safely in Dallas around 5:15 p.m. ET.
Steve Scalise says Democrats will impeach Trump if they take back Congress
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise took the podium at the GOP midterm convention in Dallas this afternoon, warning the crowd that if Democrats take control of Congress, they will try to impeach Trump.
Steve Scalise, R-La. Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images
"The first thing they’ll do is impeach President Trump and his Cabinet," said Scalise, R-La. "This is not your father’s Democrat Party. The Democrat Party has been completely taken over by crazy communists."
He urged the crowd to show up at the polls in November to protect Trump's "America First" agenda.
Trump said in January that Democrats will "find a reason to impeach me" if they win control of Congress in the midterm elections, and he has repeated the sentiment in speeches since.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said in June that House Democrats "haven't ruled anything out" when it comes to impeachment.
This week, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said that Trump has “undoubtedly” committed impeachable offenses and that impeachment is "not a fetish" to Democrats, but rather "a tool in the toolbox."
Reporters' views blocked at midterm convention
At American Airlines Center in Dallas, dozens of print media reporters are seated behind the convention stage and facing front at large black curtains with no visibility of the speakers. Convention organizers assigned the seats.
Print reporters are also largely unable to hear the speeches from their designated seating area. Speakers' voices are muffled and difficult to understand.
As of 4 p.m. local time, the floor and the lower bowl of the arena were largely filled, while the upper sections had many empty seats.
Trump is not set to give his keynote address until around after 9 p.m. local time.
The view of the seats from the designated area for the print media at the Republican midterm convention. Matt Dixon / NBC News
Marco Rubio says he has ‘no plans at this time’ to run for president
Secretary of State Marco Rubio weighed in on 2028 speculation, saying he currently has “no plans” to run for president — but he left the door open to doing so.
“I don’t know what the future holds, but I have no plans at this time,” Rubio told Colombian station RCN.
James Talarico calls deepfake videos of him ‘lies’ that voters are ‘fed up’ with
Democratic state Rep. James Talarico today characterized campaign ads using AI-generated videos of him as “lies” and asserted that voters are “fed up” with them, one day after his opponent in Texas’ Senate race posted a deepfake video of him.
“They are lying about a candidate in this race, and so I think Texans are fed up with these kind of lies in our politics,” Talarico said in an interview with NBC News in Dallas. “They want elected leaders who are going to shoot straight with them about their record and about what they’re going to do for the people of Texas, and so these AI deepfake ads don’t add anything to our civic discourse.”
In a video state Attorney General Ken Paxton’s campaign released yesterday, which The Texas Tribune reported will air on Newsmax this week, Talarico is depicted writing with a crayon in a “King James Talarico” bible with audio clips of separate remarks he has made in the past about gender and feminism but spliced together without context.
It’s not the first time Republicans have posted deepfake videos of Talarico. In March, shortly after he won the Democratic nomination for the Senate, the National Republican Senatorial Committee posted a video of an AI-generated Talarico reading excerpts of previous posts of his on X.
At the time, a spokesperson for Talarico told CNN that Republicans were “scared” of him. “While they spend their time making deepfake AI videos to mislead Texans, we are uniting the people of Texas to win in November,” the spokesperson said.
In today’s interview, which came after he hosted an event counterprogramming the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas, Talarico also addressed recently resurfaced remarks he made in 2020 calling capitalism an “oppressive system.”
“I’ve missed the mark on statements that I’ve made in the past. I’ll be the first to admit that,” he said. “What I was talking about when you listened to my entire comments was not capitalism, but crony capitalism, which is what we have today.”
He pointed specifically to the Republican candidates and donors gathering this week in Texas to promote their policy agenda ahead of the midterms, saying, “The only people who succeed in this economy are those who can pay for politicians, like the megadonors who are in that convention center across the street, and that’s what we have to dismantle.”
Talarico also spoke about Democrats’ yearslong efforts to win a statewide contest in Texas, addressing hopes from members of his party that he could be the one to “turn Texas blue” in November.
“I’m actually not interested in turning Texas blue. I know my party wants to turn Texas blue. The Republican Party wants to keep Texas red. I think the best color for Texas is purple,” he said. “When you have competitive elections, it forces every politician at every level to stay on their toes and compete to serve the people of the state and to operate within the 40-yard lines. Right now, one-party rule leads to extremism and corruption, no matter what state.”
Trump administration proposes excluding huge swath of immigrants from U.S. census
The Trump administration today proposed changing the national census to include only U.S. citizens and permanent residents, a move that could significantly change how much political representation and federal funding each state receives.
The U.S. Census Bureau submitted the proposal just over a year after Trump ordered its parent agency to craft a new census that would block immigrants in the U.S. illegally from being counted. The bureau will conduct the next full census in 2030.
Trump vows to get gas prices below $2 after the midterms
Trump told reporters that he would get gas prices down to below $2 a gallon, but only after the midterms.
He was answering a question about how he would explain high gas prices to voters.
“Well, I think it’s very easy to explain to America. All you have to do is say, ‘Will you let Iran have a nuclear weapon?’ And the answer is no,” Trump said.
“So for a little while, I would say this: Shortly, but right after the election, because they’d like to have it that way, but right after the election, oil prices are going to be tumbling downward. They’re going to be tumbling down, and we’ll get them down. I think for gasoline, we’ll get them below $2 a gallon,” he added.
Pressed about the timing of the predicted decrease, Trump said: “I think it’s going to take a little bit longer than the midterm.”
The national average cost per gallon is $4.22, a 41.7% increase since the start of the Iran war.
Trump says he would consider pardoning Michael Cohen
Trump said today that he would consider pardoning his former fixer Michael Cohen.
“If everything is checking out, it’s something I would consider. Yeah. I mean what they did to Michael Cohen was a disgrace. They forced him to say things that he didn’t want to say and that he didn’t believe, and I appreciate that at least he came out, although late, he came out and rectified the situation,” Trump told reporters today.
In 2018, a federal court judge sentenced Cohen to three years behind bars for what the judge called a "veritable smorgasbord" of criminal conduct, including lying to Congress about Trump's business dealings, failing to disclose millions of dollars in income and making secret payments to women who claimed they'd had affairs with Trump.
Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer who once testified against Trump in Congress and in court, interviewed Trump for his radio show last month.
During the show, Cohen and Trump appeared to bury the hatchet, with Cohen emphasizing the theme of “forgiveness.”
Cohen didn’t request a pardon from Trump during their conversation, but he told CNN in an interview before that he had submitted an application to the administration. Trump previously refused to pardon Cohen.
Trump says not all Republicans are attending the midterm convention because there isn't enough room
Trump told reporters this afternoon that not all Republican lawmakers are attending the midterm convention in Texas this week because there isn't enough room.
"The reason that some people are not coming is because we don’t have room for 500 politicians. We have room for the ones that have a close race, if they’re slightly behind or slightly ahead or tied," Trump said on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, before he left for the convention.
"But we don’t have rooms for people that are 35 points up and don’t need to be there. We said stay back and campaign. Every politician that we’ve wanted to be there is there," he added.
And as Trump faces a low approval rating, some Republicans in competitive election races said they aren't going to Dallas for the convention. An NBC News count found that while 29 House Republicans said they would attend the event, 33 said they wouldn't.
Trump says war will end after the midterms
Trump predicted to reporters today that the Iran war would end after the midterms.
“I think the war is going to end immediately after the election,” Trump said as he was waiting to board Air Force One to travel to the GOP midterm convention in Texas.
Asked why, Trump said it be “because they can’t hold out any longer.”
“They’re desperate to try and affect the election so that we can get a nice weak group of people in there and leave them alone and let them have their nuclear weapon,” he said.
‘South Park’ is now ‘South America’ in dig at Apple and Google for observing Trump’s Lake Ontario order
“South Park” creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone renamed their long-running animated TV show “South America” in a not-so-subtle dig at the White House, big tech and the pair’s own corporate bosses, the producers said yesterday.
And by this morning, Comedy Central’s website listed the show under its new MAGA-mocking title, “South America.”
Trump has long demanded that well-known geographic locations be given U.S.-centric titles, with his latest call to flip Lake Ontario to “Lake America” — name changes that Google and Apple have agreed to on their map apps.
Texas Democratic Party chair vows outreach to voters on 'suspense' list
Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder said today that Democrats will reach out to residents on the state's "suspense" voter list, which requires those listed to update their addresses before voting.
Scudder said at a news conference with other Texas Democratic leaders that they are working their way through the list and would make "direct contact with those people instead of hoping that they watch the news, instead of hoping that they see digital ads."
"We’re going to go to their doors, we’re going to make phone calls to them," he said, adding, “We want to make sure that every person who legally has a right to cast a ballot in Texas has the ability to do that.”
More than 1.2 million people have been placed on the state’s suspense list as of March, according to Texas Secretary of State Robert Howden’s website.
Howden's spokesperson, Alicia Pierce, said the list was created in response to the National Voter Registration Act and aims to maintain accurate voting rolls.
"County election officials add registrations to the list if they have reason to believe a voter moved — often because of a returned voted registration card," she said.
People on the list have to update their addresses by an Oct. 5 deadline to vote in the November election, Pierce said. But she added that "even after that date, voters have options to cast a ballot."
Data center backlash is everywhere. The biggest pro-AI group is getting ready to fight back.
Backlash against the nationwide data center buildout is threatening to shape the 2026 midterm elections. But the lead strategists behind one of the biggest pro-AI groups believe the political and policy fights around AI and data centers are merely “in the early innings” — and they’re eager to shape the next ones.
People protest data center expansion at a rally at the Texas Capitol in Austin before a state Senate Finance Committee hearing in July. Jay Janner / The Austin American-Statesman via Getty Images file
In the meantime, with the midterms just two months away, the Democratic and Republican co-chairs of the pro-AI super PAC Leading the Future are detailing their efforts at “fighting back” against what they see as increasingly extreme voices on both sides of the aisle. For the moment, those voices are the ones doing the most to shape the debate over America’s approach to AI.
House Republicans split over attending ‘Trumpapalooza’ convention as president’s approval ratings slide
Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., is angry. Facing a tough re-election bid this fall, the two-term congressman vented to NBC News that Republicans — who control both chambers of Congress and the White House — aren’t getting the credit they deserve for achievements like plummeting illegal border crossings and tax breaks on tips and overtime pay.
So he plans to go to his party’s midterm convention in Dallas, which the Republican National Committee chair has nicknamed “Trumpapalooza,” to tell the story.
JB Pritzker says Republicans are trying to 'rig' the 2026 midterm elections
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker accused Republicans of making efforts to try to "rig" the 2026 midterm elections in remarks today at a press conference in Dallas.
Pritzker, who is considered a potential 2028 presidential candidate, said Trump is trying to have the U.S. Postal Service interfere with mail-in ballots across the country.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker criticized Trump's effort to vet voters who send in ballots by mail. John J. Kim / Chicago Tribune via Getty Images
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Sunday to temporarily allow the Postal Service to proceed with a new rule that would allow it to track mail-in ballots and potentially reject any from voters not included in a federal database used to verify citizenship.
"Republicans know that they can’t win on the merits of their unpopular policies, so they’re working to rig the 2026 election," Pritzker said at the event, which featured Texas Democrats and was billed as counterprogramming to the GOP's midterm convention.
"It’s a disgraceful attack on Black and Hispanic citizens and civil rights activists who shed their blood, and others who lost their lives, to secure our right to vote," he continued.
He later warned that “if Democrats don’t win, if they don’t win in this election, we may not have other elections, or certainly we’re going to have future elections, every single one of which will be rigged.”
Troves of new 9/11 docs suggest NYC officials knew of air quality health risks
New York City released about 170,000 pages of documents related to post-9/11 air quality and health risks yesterday — a trove of paperwork within which some notes suggest city officials knew of the potential environmental dangers and legal exposure in the early aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
One undated internal document — a letter to then-Deputy Mayor Robert Harding — listed various potential grounds for lawsuits against the city, including health advisories that caused people to return to the area too soon, causing toxic exposure, rescue workers being provided with faulty equipment and police failing to secure businesses from looters.
Sen. Ted Cruz says he would give Trump an 'A' on the economy and prices
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said in an interview on ABC's "The View" that he would give Trump an "A" on the economy.
Asked which grade he would give the president on the economy and prices, Cruz at first defended the president by comparing gas prices during the Trump administration to gas prices during the Biden administration.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, on Aug. 29. Charlie Neibergall / Getty Images
But pressed repeatedly to provide a letter grade, Cruz ultimately said, "I would give him an A."
The audience groaned and the hosts pushed back, prompting Cruz to defend his answer.
"I recognize that the day he came in, you guys didn’t like him, and you still don’t like him," he said. "That’s OK. That’s the beauty of democracy. You can have different views."
The national gas price average today stands at $4.22, which is up nearly 42% since before the Iran war began. At the same time, Brent crude again hit $100 per barrel for the first time since July. Last week, the jobs report indicated that the U.S. economy added 162,000 jobs, which was much higher than expected.
Ford pushes back on Trump administration criticism over deals with Chinese firms
Ford Motor Co. pushed back against criticism from the Trump administration that its business deals with Chinese companies raise national security concerns, saying its licensing deal with a Chinese battery maker will strengthen American manufacturing.
The White House said yesterday that Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had sent a letter to Ford CEO Jim Farley urging him to cut ties with Chinese companies such as CATL, a world-leading battery manufacturer whose technology Ford is licensing at its plant in Marshall, Michigan. CATL is on a Pentagon list of companies accused of having ties to the Chinese military, which it denies.
Duffy, whose comments came as major automakers push Congress to tighten a ban on Chinese vehicles in the U.S., also cited Ford’s ties with Chinese automakers Geely and BYD.
Ford said Duffy’s letter was “a wrongheaded attempt to capture headlines,” noting that the Michigan facility is Ford-owned and -operated. “While others continue to import Chinese batteries, Ford is investing to build batteries here in America,” the company said in a statement yesterday, adding that the Michigan project was touted in a White House news release last week.
White House removes ‘Build the Wall’ game from website after Tetris posts warning
The White House removed a MAGA-themed game called "Build the Wall" from its website this week after the Tetris Co. issued a statement online alluding to copyright infringement.
The White House created an online arcade featuring the now-removed "Build the Wall" game, which was similar to "Tetris." Jon Elswick / AP
Last week, the White House unveiled a series of video games centered on President Donald Trump’s agenda, which mirrored popular games such as "Tetris," "Snake" and "Flappy Bird."
Trump says firefighters near ground zero carried him to safety ‘right after’ 9/11 attack
At an event ahead of the 25th anniversary of 9/11, Trump told a story yesterday in which he said two firefighters picked him up off the ground near the U.S. Steel Building close to ground zero “right after” the terrorist attacks and whisked him away because they thought the building was going to collapse on them.
Trump, who said in his remarks that he was “down there right after this happened,” later said on Truth Social that he was not at the World Trade Center “on the same day as the collapse, but shortly thereafter.”
“Everything I said was exactly accurate,” he said of his remarks at the Ellipse outside the White House, sharing a TV news clip of him speaking after the attacks.
He has spoken many times about what he saw on Sept. 11, 2001, and his actions in the immediate aftermath. Here’s a look back at what he has said, much of which has not been independently verified.
Conflicting court rulings leave Missouri’s congressional map in limbo
A fast-moving fight over whether Missouri Republicans can use a redrawn congressional map for this fall’s midterm elections was cast into chaos on Tuesday with two different courts issuing conflicting rulings.
In one, the U.S. Supreme Court, in an order issued by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, left in place a Missouri Supreme Court ruling from last week that said the map could not be used while a ballot initiative that could lead to voters rejecting the newly drawn district lines moves forward. Kavanaugh handles emergency requests that arise from Missouri.
Oil hits $100 a barrel for first time in months as Middle East conflict intensifies again
The price of oil breached the $100 threshold today for the first time in months, as new flare-ups in the United States’ war with Iran stoked fresh concern for global energy markets.
The spike came a day after the U.S. military said it destroyed five Iranian tankers in response to attempted missile attacks on a Navy warship. Tehran responded with attacks on U.S. ships and a base in Jordan, the latest bout of fighting in a conflict that remains unresolved after months of disruption.
Trump gave $45,000 holiday gifts to Natalie Harp and two other White House aides
Trump gave sizable holiday gifts to four White House aides, according to new financial disclosures released by the administration.
The gifts of $45,000 each to executive assistant Natalie Harp, communications adviser Margo Martin and deputy director of Oval Office operations Chamberlain Harris, as well as a $20,000 gift to director of Oval Office operations Walt Nauta, were noted in the staffers’ annual financial disclosure forms that were published by the administration last week.
Natalie Harp and President Donald Trump on July 22. Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images
Harp, Martin and Harris make $150,000 annually and Nauta is paid $175,000 a year, according to the White House’s salary disclosure report to Congress.
A New Hampshire political dynasty could continue after House primary result
Stefany Shaheen, a health advocate and former local government official whose mother is New Hampshire's senior U.S. senator, won the Democratic primary for the 1st Congressional District, NBC News projects.
Shaheen won the crowded and, at times, contentious, primary featuring a swirl of candidates from different backgrounds and ideological parts of the party. Her nearest rival was Maura Sullivan, a former national security official who had unsuccessfully sought the seat in 2018.
As the Democratic primary winner, Shaheen will be the front-runner to succeed Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, who is running for Senate. Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen is retiring this year after serving three terms.
Iran attacks American warships and base after U.S. sinks five Iranian tankers
The U.S. military struck five Iranian tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in response to attempted attacks by the IRGC on an American warship, according to U.S. Central Command.
“The U.S. warship successfully evaded the attempted Iranian attacks and continued to patrol regional waters. No American personnel were harmed,” CENTCOM said in a post on X.
Two American warships were attacked and damaged by ballistic missiles, the IRGC said in a statement, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.
The IRGC also said in a statement yesterday that it had retaliated by launching missiles at American forces on the Al Azraq military base in Jordan, according to Fars.
GOP Gov. Kelly Ayotte and Democrat Cinde Warmington to face off for New Hampshire governorship
New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, will face off against Democrat Cinde Warmington in November’s general election, NBC News projects, as she seeks another two-year term.
Ayotte did not face any major challenges in the GOP primary; Warmington ran unopposed in the Democratic primary.
New Hampshire is one of two states — Vermont is the other — where Republican governors are up for re-election after then-Vice President Kamala Harris won the state in 2024.
Trump escalates trade war with Canada, moving to ban imports of some motorcycles, dairy and alcohol
Trump moved yesterday to sharply escalate the trade war with Canada, seeking to block imports of some motorcycles, dairy products and alcohol.
Senior Trump administration officials said in a call with reporters that the move was in direct response to Canada’s latest retaliatory tariffs, which took effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
Republican John Sununu and Democrat Chris Pappas win New Hampshire Senate primaries, setting up battleground race
The battleground New Hampshire Senate race is set between Republican former Sen. John Sununu and Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas, NBC News projects, after both prevailed in their primaries last night.
Pappas defeated scientist Karishma Manzur, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, in his primary, leading 62% to 36% with about one-fifth of the vote counted. But it appears he could fall short of the support from primary voters that his campaign touted in recent internal polling.
The race could be key to the fight for the Senate majority in November.
Rhode Island’s Democratic governor may fall in his primary because of a bridge
Rhode Island Democratic Gov. Dan McKee is at risk today of becoming the first sitting governor in the country to lose a primary in eight years — and it might be all because of a bridge.
Public polls have shown McKee, who is running for re-election for a second full term, trailing by double digits to Democratic challenger Helena Foulkes, a wealthy former CVS executive, whose campaign has outspent his on the airwaves 3 to 1.
And while there has been a wave of anti-incumbent energy in Democratic primaries throughout the year, Rhode Island’s contest hasn’t broken along generational or ideological lines. Foulkes, 62, isn’t running to the left or to the right of McKee, 75. Rather, the race has been defined by hyperlocal issues.
In Rhode Island, the smallest state by area in the U.S., it may be McKee’s decision to close a major bridge for safety reasons that is to blame for his potential political demise. His 2023 closure of the Washington Bridge in Providence has created huge traffic problems in the state’s largest city — and problems for him politically.
Republicans gather in Dallas for Trump’s unusual midterm convention
Republicans will descend on Dallas this week for a two-day convention dreamed up by Trump to rally his supporters for this year’s midterm elections.
Republicans have never held a midterm convention before, although Democrats did in the 1970s and 1980s.
More than 100 Republican House members and candidates are expected to be in Dallas, according to a person familiar with the event who requested anonymity before it begins. Mark Felix / Bloomberg via Getty Images
Midterms are often difficult for the party in power in Washington, and Trump believes the event can juice enthusiasm for the party and boost turnout among his voters.
Republicans said the event will help catapult its candidates into November, but it will also showcase the first two years of Trump’s term. Although the president’s poll numbers are sagging, he insists that running on his record will give Republicans their best shot at winning.
More than 100 Republican House members and candidates are expected to be in Dallas, according to a person familiar with the event who requested anonymity before it begins. They were required to pay $25,000 for tickets and lodging, which the person described as typical for political conventions.
Some lawmakers in competitive races have indicated they won’t go or hadn’t determined their plans less than a week before the convention.
Today, Trump is delivering a keynote address. Tomorrow, he’s scheduled to appear again after a speech from Vice President JD Vance. A long list of speakers includes members of Trump’s Cabinet such as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The party’s candidates will be showcased, including Ken Paxton, the Texas Senate hopeful, whom Trump controversially threw his support behind instead of backing incumbent Sen. John Cornyn.
But much of the program is focused on Trump’s agenda, from his crackdown on immigration, efforts to lower prescription drug prices, the sweeping tax cuts and spending law he signed last year and his tariffs, along with a partisan case against Democrats. Expect many of the speakers to echo Trump’s attack lines portraying Democrats as communists.
