First Lady Melania Trump is not expected to attend next week’s Republican midterm convention in Texas, leaving a high-profile figure absent from an event intended to demonstrate unity around President Donald Trump. It comes after Newsweek confirmed that Texas Senator John Cornyn also plans to miss the September 9-10 event in Dallas. Melania Trump and Cornyn join a list of dozens of Republican lawmakers and candidates in competitive congressional races who are also expected to stay away, with some choosing to campaign in their districts and others reportedly objecting to attendance costs.
The contrasting decisions of candidates in competitive races could offer a revealing measure of where appearing alongside Trump is considered an advantage, and where it is regarded as a liability. Trump’s gathering is also expected to bring about 20,000 people to the American Airlines Center and cost Dallas more than $2 million in public-safety and logistical expenses, with reimbursement arrangements still unresolved as of the city’s latest reported memo. Newsweek reached out to the White House and the Republican National Committee (RNC) via email for comment on Saturday morning.
The RNC’s formal call says the convention will celebrate Trump’s accomplishments and rally the party behind a shared vision, while prohibiting resolutions, elections or any other official business. Its success therefore rests primarily on messaging, visibility and voter mobilization. Melania Trump does not plan to attend, a White House official told The Washington Post.
No reason was provided, and neither the first lady nor her office has issued an attributable announcement about her plans. Her expected absence stands out because she appeared on the final night of the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, although she did not address delegates. The Dallas decision should not be interpreted as evidence of a personal or political disagreement.
Cornyn’s spokesperson confirmed to Newsweek that the outgoing Texas senator would not attend. His absence carries added consequence because the event is taking place in Texas and will promote Attorney General Ken Paxton, who defeated Cornyn for the Republican Senate nomination after receiving Trump’s endorsement. That contest has become unusually competitive.
An August University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll placed Democrat James Talarico on 42 percent and Paxton on 39 percent, with 14 percent expressing no preference. The survey of 1,200 registered voters had a weighted margin of error of 3.58 percentage points. Cornyn’s office did not attribute his decision to Trump, Paxton or the primary result.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
