As the midterms loom, Trump returns to his happy place: on stage in the theatre of the absurd | US politics
US politics | The Guardian — 2026-09-10 00:59:00 — www.theguardian.com
Trump’s Dallas Convention Speech: A Night of Falsehoods, Exaggerations, and Attacks
At the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Donald Trump delivered a marathon speech filled with false claims, personal attacks, and self-aggrandizing rhetoric, all while basking in the adulation of his most devoted supporters.
False Claims and Exaggerations
Trump opened the event by declaring, “Welcome to the first ever midterm convention of any party,” ignoring the fact that Democrats held similar conventions in the 1970s and 1980s. He then claimed, “Not only is this packed, but you have an equal number of people standing outside. If anybody would like to give up their seat!”—despite the reality that there were dozens of empty seats, especially in the upper tiers.
Perhaps the most egregious falsehood came when Trump asserted he had won three presidential elections and that “people on the other side are actually admitting it.” Both statements are demonstrably untrue, yet the crowd cheered and chanted for “Four more years!”
Trump also boasted, “It’s a great tribute to Trump … Everybody loves me and I love everybody!” and made the dubious claim that no one had left the arena after 80 minutes.
Personal Attacks and Derision
Throughout his speech, Trump repeatedly mocked and attacked political opponents. He disparaged James Talarico, the Democratic Senate candidate in Texas, calling him “Talafreako” and ridiculing him for supposedly running a campaign to “beat meat.” Trump also mocked Talarico’s appearance and eating habits, saying, “He was recently seen having a barbecue and eating a lot of meat.”
He further derided Democrats as “communists” and declared, “They have more bullshit than any human beings on the planet,” a line that drew wild applause from the audience.
Outlandish Promises and Name-Calling
Trump asked voters to “pretend” he was on the ballot and promised $5,000 to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retained control of both the House and Senate—a promise that echoes his history of making grandiose, legally questionable pledges.
He also played with language, suggesting that “Democrats” should be called “Dumocrats,” and claimed, “Nobody knows that dumb has a B at the end of it – most people think it’s ‘D-U-M’.”
Fantastical Proposals and Self-Mythology
In a series of bizarre riffs, Trump proposed renaming Lake Ontario to “Lake America,” New Mexico to “New America,” and the Strait of Hormuz to the “Trump Strait.” He speculated about a hypothetical scenario in which Iran obtained a nuclear weapon, saying he would be forced to call the Supreme Leader to ask, “Is there anything we can do for you?”—as opposed to “bombing the crap out of him.”
Conclusion
Trump’s Dallas speech was a showcase of his signature style: a blend of falsehoods, exaggerations, personal attacks, and self-promotion. While his most ardent supporters cheered him on, the event underscored his ongoing reliance on misinformation and divisive rhetoric to energize his base. As the 2024 election cycle heats up, Trump’s disregard for facts and penchant for spectacle remain central to his political strategy.