Republicans don’t need a pep rally. They need Trump to deliver. | Opinion

Republicans don't need a pep rally. They need Trump to deliver.

Key points

• Recent polls show Rogers, who lost his Senate bid in 2024 by around 20, 000 votes, running neck-and-neck with El-Sayed.
• "Leaving mid-Michigan 55 days from Election Day in a targeted seat was never a consideration, " Jason Cabel Roe, Barrett's campaign strategist, informed me.
• I think Trump wants a replay of the 2024 Republican National Convention.
• Tom Barrett, a Republican facing a tough battle to keep his central Michigan seat, is skipping the event, saying he'd be more useful in his district.
• He additionally capitalized on the growing distrust of former President Joe Biden's ability to do the job (Biden dropped out of his reelection bid shortly thereafter).

Republicans don't need a pep rally. They need Trump to deliver. Opinion Plenty of Republicans locked in close races aren't eager to 'build momentum' with a president whose priorities have often come at the GOP's expense. Ingrid Jacques USA TODAY. Vance downplays 'Trumpapalooza' convention GOP no-shows.

"That doesn't concern me, " JD Vance remarked of Republicans opting out of the convention, adding that candidates in close races have a lot to juggle. I have to offer President Donald Trump credit for confidence.

Whether that confidence will support Republicans come November is another matter entirely.

At Trump's insistence, Republicans are hosting their first-ever midterm convention. The two-day affair – dubbed "Trumpapalooza" – is being held in Dallas. Trump was scheduled to speak the evening of Sept. 9, to "set the tone" of the event. He's additionally going to offer closing remarks on the final night.

Trump believes his voters need a reminder that even though he's not on the ballot this time, he wants them to vote like he is.

That may not be the motivation the party needs weeks ahead of the midterm elections that will determine who controls Congress for the rest of Trump's term.

Democrats are ecstatic. They desperately want to tie Trump's record and unpopularity to Republicans hoping to keep their seats – or flip other ones. As the war in Iran drags on and the economy isn't as rosy as Trump promised, trump's approval has dropped even among his ardent base.

None of that is stopping the Republican Party from putting a positive spin on the affair.

"President Trump will unite Republicans around our shared vision, build momentum, and deliver an incredible convention for our Party, " remarked Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters in an official note ahead of the convention. Trump renamed Lake Ontario to Lake America. So what? Opinion. Notably, a lot of Republicans are skipping the midterm convention altogether.

Plenty of Republicans locked in close races aren't eager to "build momentum" with a president whose priorities have often come at the GOP's expense.

So they're skipping the shindig and staying focused on their own districts.

In my state of Michigan, a number of closely watched races could assist decide control of both the U.S. Senate and House, and the candidates in those races are handling Trumpapalooza particularly differently.

Rep. Tom Barrett, a Republican facing a tough battle to keep his central Michigan seat, is skipping the event, saying he'd be more useful in his district.

"Leaving mid-Michigan 55 days from Election Day in a targeted seat was never a consideration, " Jason Cabel Roe, Barrett's campaign strategist, informed me. "The convention will be a valuable reframing of the consequences of the Nov. 3 outcome but Tom's voters are in his district."

Mike Rogers, the former congressman locked in an extremely tight race for an open Senate seat against progressive Abdul El-Sayed, is attending the convention and is one of three candidates from Michigan slated to speak.

Recent polls show Rogers, who lost his Senate bid in 2024 by around 20, 000 votes, running neck-and-neck with El-Sayed. The Cook Political Report rates the seat a toss-up.

It's a curious call for a candidate who's built his campaign on crossing the aisle, attracting a "Democrats for Mike Rogers" coalition along the way.

Yet it additionally indicates the bind he's in: drumming up Republican enthusiasm when Trump isn't on the ballot.

"A midterm convention isn't a bad idea but with Trump's numbers at what they are and the undeniable political winds, it's a huge risk for swing-seat Republicans, especially given how it's a Trump rally and not a real convention of the whole Republican Party, " Republican strategist Dennis Lennox informed me. El-Sayed's Michigan win could cost Democrats in the midterms Opinion. Trump wants a reset to 2024 momentum. It's not that straightforward.

I think Trump wants a replay of the 2024 Republican National Convention. It united the party in a real way and supported build the momentum that carried him to victory that November.

That won't be straightforward to duplicate. Just days before that convention obtained underway, Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania.

I was at that RNC, and the backing for Trump was palpable.

He additionally capitalized on the growing distrust of former President Joe Biden's ability to do the job (Biden dropped out of his reelection bid shortly thereafter). Trump ran on two main priorities: closing Biden's open border and fixing the economy.

To his credit, Trump rapidly delivered on the border. But while some aspects of the economy are solid – look at the recent jobs report – numerous voters are still dealing with high gas and grocery rates.

Meanwhile, the president must recommit to delivering on his campaign promises – and be clear regarding what he's doing to produce that happen.

Voters, and the Republicans counting on them, didn't need Trumpapalooza. They need Trump to do the job they elected him to do.

Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected] or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques. SMS Facebook Twitter Email. Share your feedback to support improve our site! Share your feedback to support improve our site!

Taken together, the developments around republicans dont need a pep rally. They need Trump to deliver point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.