Donald Trump opened the first-ever Republican midterm convention in Dallas, urging supporters to back GOP candidates in November even though he is not on the ballot himself. The two-day event, attended by around 20,000 people, is intended to boost Republican prospects of retaining Congress, but a notable list of absentees from the main stage has drawn attention to Trump's waning popularity within parts of his own party.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune skipped the event following tensions with Trump, while vulnerable Republicans including Susan Collins, Ashley Hinson and John Sununu also stayed away from competitive races. Trump repeated his unfounded claim to have "won the presidency three times" and praised Texas Senate nominee Ken Paxton, while his arrival was delayed after an emergency slide deployed on his Air Force One. The convention, held in 95-degree heat, also competed for attention with the NFL season opener and included tributes to the late activist Charlie Kirk and the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.