'Trump Show' Fails to Fill 20,000-Seat Stadium... Red Flags for U.S. Republican Convention Success Become Reality

[Financial News] U.S. President Donald Trump has stepped to the forefront of the congressional elections two months ahead of the November midterm elections. He appealed to voters to vote for the Republican Party, even pledging cash payments, asking them to imagine that his name was on the ballot; however, the convention suffered a major failure in terms of public interest as attendance fell short of expectations.
On the 9th (local time), the Republican National Committee (RNC) opened its two-day national convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.
The highlight of this convention was President Trump's keynote speech. President Trump took the stage as the keynote speaker that afternoon and delivered a speech lasting 1 hour and 44 minutes. He made a surprise pledge, stating, "If the Republican Party gains control of both the Senate and the House in this midterm election, I will pay a dividend of $5,000 (approximately 6.7 million won) to every adult American." He appealed to the audience, saying, "If the Republican Party wins, you will receive the 'Trump dividend,'" and urged them to "vote as if I were on the ballot."
Several cabinet members from the Trump administration also took the stage at the convention.
United States Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent emphasized, "Private-sector jobs in the United States have increased by more than one million compared with the previous Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. administration, and companies are increasing investment across the country," adding, "President Trump's plan will be strengthened beyond tax cuts through trade agreements with countries and deregulation."
United States Attorney General Todd Blanche also delivered a speech of support. As the head of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), where political neutrality is a core value, he appeared at the Republican National Convention, prompting criticism from within the Democratic Party that it was "inappropriate conduct."
The scale of enthusiasm and cheering expected at the convention hall was hard to find. This was because there were many empty seats throughout the American Airlines Center, which can accommodate 20,000 people. By around 3 p.m., when the convention opened, only about half of the venue was filled, and with the top tier of the stands almost empty, it seemed difficult to avoid criticism that President Trump's ability to mobilize supporters had weakened.
This stands in stark contrast to the convention held a little over two years ago, which confirmed Trump as the Republican Party's presidential nominee in July 2024 and was attended by supporters in a frenzy comparable to that of a religious gathering. Critics point out that President Trump's strategy of rallying his support base through the first-ever midterm convention to dispel concerns about an election defeat stemming from the prolonged war with Iran failed, at least in terms of attendance.
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