Trump Claims GOP Midterm Convention Will Benefit Party Despite Low Attendance

Donald Trump stated that his midterm convention in Dallas last week will significantly benefit the Republican Party in the upcoming midterm elections. He posted on Truth Social on Monday evening, claiming, "The Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas was a solidly sold out winner for Republicans. Also, great Views and Ratings. Should have a big impact on November 3rd." The event, which took place on Wednesday and Thursday, aimed to bolster support for the party ahead of the elections for the House and Senate. However, a recent survey indicates that Democrats currently hold a 7-point lead among voters. Trump reiterated his claims on Friday, stating that streaming numbers were high and that the venue had set attendance records, with many people watching outside due to capacity limits. However, reports from Daily Beast journalists noted empty seats in the venue and that organizers had offered free tickets shortly before the event. Viewing figures for Trump's keynote address were reported at 2.5 million on Fox News, which is below average for that time slot. Other networks, including CNN and MSNBC, did not broadcast his speech. The GOP's official streaming channel reportedly attracted only 50,000 viewers, while other livestreams had engagement in the hundreds to low thousands. In contrast, 25.1 million viewers watched the NFL season opener during the same time. According to a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on Monday, voters favor Democrats over Republicans by 44 percent to 37 percent. Trump's convention performance resulted in a slight increase in his approval ratings from 33 percent to 35 percent, still above his lowest rating following the January 6 Capitol riots. The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House for comment.