RNC Midterm Convention in Dallas brings rally, road closures

There is a lot of speculation that Vice President JD Vance is going to run for president in 2028. 

An exchange between President Trump supporters and Dallas Constables happened during a protest outside Dallas City Hall.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, who was reelected in May 2023 and switched his party affiliation from Democratic to Republican later that year, spoke at the Republican midterm convention at the American Airlines Center in Victory Park.

On Sept. 10, he shared his vision for the city, including making Dallas the nation's next financial capital, which he calls "Y'all Street."

Democratic members of Congress gathered across from the American Airlines Center during the RNC midterm convention, focusing their message on affordability.

When asked about President Trump's proposal to give American adults $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate, Democrats called him a "man of empty promises."  

Thursday afternoon saw the first of multiple protests against the RNC midterm convention in Dallas. 

It began as a gathering in a park with protest songs and speeches from opponents of President Trump and turned into a march down the streets of Dallas, with riot police and mounted patrols blocking protesters from getting close to the American Airlines Center, where the convention is taking place. 

There were minor physical confrontations between supporters of the president and the protestors that briefly blocked traffic. Dallas police said two arrests were made at the protests on Thursday.  

A day after President Trump unveiled the idea of sending a $5,000 "Trump Dividend" to every American citizen after the midterm elections if Republicans hold the House and Senate, he's sharing more details about the plan in an exclusive interview with CBS News Texas political reporter Jack Fink. 

Watch the full interview. 

More than 100 protesters marched through downtown Dallas during the RNC Midterm Convention, briefly blocking traffic near the American Airlines Center. 

Police took two protesters to the ground after officers said someone deployed pepper spray, but the march organizer disputed that claim. There were also minor confrontations between protesters and Trump supporters.  

President Trump gave a big push for Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton during his keynote address. The president said he would come back to Texas to get Paxton elected — two or three more times if he had to.

Hours before the President took the stage, Ken Paxton addressed the thousands of Republicans attending. He and Democrat James Talarico are locked in a very tight race, with Talarico leading slightly in most of the recent polls.  

About an hour into his Keynote Address at the RNC convention in Dallas on Wednesday, President Trump vowed to send a $5,000 "dividend" to every American citizen after the midterms, if Republicans hold onto control of the House and Senate.

"If the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000," he said.  

The president didn't offer details on how the payments, dubbed "Trump Dividends,"  would work, including if he plans to ask Congress to authorize the checks.

He likened the payments to his Trump Account child investment funds, which were authorized by Congress, and last year's "warrior dividend" bonuses to U.S. service members, which were funded through a military housing supplement approved by lawmakers.  

Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman appeared in a surprise video at the Republican Party's midterm convention on Wednesday, as he becomes increasingly isolated from his own party.

Fetterman introduced GOP Sen. Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania in a one-minute prerecorded video, saying, "Why am I here talking to you today? Because, well, I'm a common-sense Democrat. I'm always going to stand with America. I'm always going to reject the extremes in socialism and that anti-American way of life."

In a statement provided to CBS News after the video aired, Fetterman said that he was "a lifelong Democrat who votes overwhelmingly with my party — and should the Senate flip in November, I will still be the 51st vote that I ran on."  

Texas Attorney General and GOP candidate for the U.S. Senate, Ken Paxton, had a new line of attack against his Democratic opponent in the race for Senate, Texas State Rep. James Talarico, during his speech at the RNC convention in Dallas.

He criticized Talarico's positions on gender and oil and gas, saying, "Let's transition him and his crazy ideas out of Texas."

At a Democratic campaign event on Wednesday, Talarico said Paxton is "lying to the people of Texas" with a new AI advertisement that Talarico said puts "words in my mouth."  

Across the street from the American Airlines Center, the Democrats have set up their base of operation to offer a counterperspective.

At a news conference on Wednesday, they cast the convention as an extravagant party meant to distract from what's going on in the world and Republicans as out-of-touch leaders who are, in their words, "here to pop champagne with billionaires."

The Democrats want to show themselves as a party at work.

President Donald Trump arrived at DFW International Airport around 4:15 p.m. on Wednesday after a delay of more than an hour before departure. 

After greeting a small group on the tarmac, Mr. Trump got into the presidential limousine as the motorcade left for Dallas and the RNC convention at the American Airlines Center.

A member of the military accidentally triggered the inflatable slide on Air Force One on Wednesday, sources confirmed to CBS News.

President Trump stayed aboard Marine One for about 20 minutes while the problem was resolved. 

Messaging at the convention is important for Republicans. It's the very reason that President Trump and the RNC wanted to have this two-day event in Dallas. RNC Chairman Joe Gruters kicked off the two-day convention, describing the event as Trump-a-palooza.

But with high food and gas prices, Republicans and Democrats are motivated to vote. Mr. Trump and the RNC want to energize voters and all republicans and get them excited about going to the polls in November. They say they are focused on reminding voters of their successes.

Senior Pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist church in Plano addressed the crowd earlier, and Senate candidate Ken Paxton is going to address the convention. His campaign says he's going to focus on his plans to lower costs for Texans and to warn Texans against Democrat James Talarico and what Paxton describes as his radical socialist agenda. Right now. Paxton and Talarico are locked in a tight battle. Polls show they are neck and neck, with most of the polling showing that Talarico is slightly ahead. Republicans here want to send Paxton off with a boost.

Boutique and storefront retailers accustomed to seeing more traffic when the American Airlines Center hosts a concert or game are not seeing that on Wednesday.

There are security stations throughout, and the vast majority of foot traffic consists of convention attendees and registrants, all flowing through a checkpoint in front of the AAC. On the north side of the arena, security checkpoints confirm that people live in the area.

Essentially, a three-block area around the AAC is cordoned off in some form or fashion.

President Trump's departure to Texas on Wednesday was delayed after an inflatable emergency slide on the new Qatar-gifted Air Force One was deployed on the tarmac before he boarded, prompting workers to eventually remove it.

Dallas has prepared for demonstrations and there's a heightened law enforcement presence as the Republican convention brought national political attention to the city.

Dallas County Democratic Party Chairman Kardal Coleman previously told CBS News Texas that allied groups are planning demonstrations, rallies and other gatherings during the convention.

Security for the event is expected to cost nearly $2 million, while Victory Park residents are preparing for several days of crowds, restrictions and increased security.

Prior to President Trump boarding the Qatari-donated Air Force One, reporters noted that the emergency exit slide was deployed. When asked, Mr. Trump said they "wanted to make sure everything works perfectly".

President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance are among more than 100 speakers scheduled to appear at the RNC's Midterm Convention.

Mr. Trump is holding a rally this Wednesday as Republicans use the two-day gathering to energize voters and promote the president's agenda ahead of November's midterm elections.

The GOP is fighting to maintain its narrow majorities in Congress, where all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are on the ballot this year.

The Republican National Committee's Midterm Convention has brought thousands of visitors to American Airlines Center, and traffic disruptions began days before the event.

Road closures that started on Sept. 7 will impact parts of Victory Park through Sept. 11, including Victory Avenue, Nowitzki Way and Houston Street.

Residents, commuters and visitors should continue planning for additional traffic and limited access around the convention site for the next few days.