The second and final day of the Republican convention in Dallas ended last night in the same way as the day before, with a speech by President Donald Trump, who at times repeated word for word the same arguments, announcements, references, and jokes as the previous day. The same insults to his rivals and mockery of his own candidates, like the Senate candidate in Texas Ken Paxton, whom he called ugly and poorly dressed once again. The same songs with his favorite musicians.
The purpose of the event was to make it clear to the party and its members that the only strategy revolves around the leader. Not by distancing themselves from him, despite his growing unpopularity and his policies, to focus on local issues. But by making the November election a personal validation referendum. And for that, he even had his loyal followers recite an improvised oath: "Please, raise your right hand. I swear loyalty to the greatest president in the history of the United States. Who loves us so much that he can't even breathe. I swear I will go out with my family, my friends, I will do it no matter what -- I don't care if I'm registered or not, I will try to cheat like they do...," the president repeated, threatening those who don't vote "to go to hell." The audience, devoted, swore. They have no doubts or problems. There is no clearer sign than the laughter and complicity of many of them when they heard their leader say that the stadium was completely full. They looked around, saw the empty seats, and still did not waver.
The second day, despite featuring heavyweights, was equally lackluster. Trump does not have the same appeal as two years ago and thousands of empty seats were visible again. The Texas event is not suitable for extrapolations. It was not a typical rally, but with the main seats restricted to party members, donors, and wealthy individuals willing to pay thousands of dollars for a seat, a photo, or a contact. Lifelong Republicans, but not necessarily MAGA forever. That being said, the FOX audience, one of the few that chose to cover both days of the president's full speeches, stayed around 2.5 million, the usual figures for the network's prime-time hosts. So, the rest of the country did not heed the leader's call and chose to watch the start of the American football league or a TV series instead.
The day also confirmed who are, for the Republican leadership, their current rivals and enemies. If yesterday highlighted a backdrop with the faces of the main Democratic figures of recent years, such as Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, Elizabeth Warren, or Bernie Sanders, in all the speeches of the day, the main targets were different. The Mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdami; the Senate candidate from Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed; and the Senate candidate from Texas, James Talarico. The first two, both Muslims, one socialist, are frequent targets. Talarico, a school teacher, former seminarian, and theology student, presents more challenges.
The unofficial motto of the convention ended up being something like "common sense or communism," but surprisingly giving a high profile to their rivals. "They are not the party of Roosevelt or Kennedy. In fact, they are not even the party of Bill Clinton anymore," said Vice President JD Vance. "Democrats are the party of hate. They are the party that despises America and the people who built it."
The president knows, although he does not quite understand the reasons or accept the polls, that it is common for the party in the White House to struggle in midterm elections. Still, it is customary for the two major parties to try to expand their bases, make appeals to the center, present their more open face. This is not the case. Trump believes he only needs to keep the flame alive for those who voted for him in 2024, a task that is not easy.
"If you like Mexico so much, go there"
Vance, just like in the 2024 campaign and debates, took on the role of a 'moderate,' so to speak. He remembered his friend Charlie Kirk, who was killed a year ago during an event at a university. And he attacked the opposition with low blows. He even told a protester with a Mexican flag that if he liked Mexico so much, he should "get off his ass and go there." But at the same time, he wanted to show the more institutional side of the government, speaking in terms and frameworks more comfortable for the party, but also for the entire establishment. Making vague references to building bridges and collaborations in Congress. It is part of his own campaign for 2028, which he is gradually shaping. Defining his conservative character but acknowledging that he is not and will never be Trump. It is no coincidence that just yesterday, The New York Times ran an exclusive story showing a concerned Vance about the Iran war, involved, making calls to senior military officials to understand the situation and nuances. Critical of the operation and the results. This is the complete opposite of his leader.