Melania Trump and Dozens of Republicans Skip President's First 'Midterm Convention'
The first lady and at least 45 GOP lawmakers are steering clear of the RNC's new Dallas gathering, some citing a hefty entrance fee and scheduling conflicts back home.
First lady Melania Trump will skip the Republican National Committee's first-ever "Midterm Convention" in Dallas this week — and she won't be alone. At least 45 GOP lawmakers have also begged off the two-day gathering, according to multiple reports.
The convention, set for Sept. 9-10, will feature President Trump keynoting the second night and Vice President JD Vance headlining the first, backed by a lineup of 109 speakers that includes Attorney General Todd Blanche, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump Jr., House Speaker Mike Johnson, Sen. Ted Cruz and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, CBS News reported.
A White House official confirmed the first lady would not attend, offering no explanation. Also missing from the program: Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune.
Scheduling Conflicts — and a Steep Price Tag
The list of absent Republican lawmakers, compiled by Newsweek, includes Sens. John Cornyn and Tommy Tuberville along with Reps. Tom Barrett, Zach Nunn and Brian Fitzpatrick. Many cited district commitments and campaign scheduling with the midterms just over a year away; some also pointed to a reported $25,000 entrance fee as a sticking point.
"I CAN'T CONTROL WHAT THE PRESIDENT'S GOING TO SAY, BUT I CAN CONTROL WHERE I'M AT."
"I can't control what the president's going to say at the convention, but I can control where I'm at," Rep. Tom Barrett of Michigan told reporters. Rep. Zach Nunn of Iowa put it just as plainly: "I'm going to be in my district because I think it's more important to be in my district." Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota struck a similar note: "This year, I'm spending as much time as I can in South Dakota talking to folks that do have concerns."
The absences underscore a wider unease among some Republicans about tying themselves too closely to the White House heading into a difficult midterm cycle, even as the RNC bills the event as a show of party unity and energy ahead of next year's races.
The convention goes ahead regardless, with Trump and Vance expected to use the Dallas stage to rally the party's base — even as a notable slice of its own elected officials, and the first lady herself, choose to be somewhere else.