President Donald Trump took center stage on the opening night of the Republican Party’s inaugural midterm convention in Dallas, delivering a speech centered on key conservative issues including border security, transgender policies, and democratic socialism.
“We’re going to prove that America does not belong to those who hate it. America belongs to those who love it,” Trump declared to the crowd.
While voter surveys consistently show that the cost of living remains the primary concern for the electorate, the evening’s speakers largely bypassed the subject. The ongoing conflict in Iran and the subsequent surge in gasoline prices also received minimal attention from the podium.
Instead, Trump and other speakers spent significant time targeting prominent Democratic Senate candidates, such as Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and James Talarico in Texas.
The event coincided with the NFL season opener between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, and major television networks opted not to broadcast the president’s remarks live.
Here is a closer look at the facts behind some of the major claims made during the first night of the convention.
Scrutinizing Claims Against Democratic Senate Candidates
From the very start of the program, convention organizers highlighted both El-Sayed and Talarico as primary targets of the party’s opposition.
Abdul El-Sayed
Trump leveled a series of serious allegations against El-Sayed, a former public health official in Michigan, claiming that:
- El-Sayed “wants to pack the Supreme Court with 23 far-left lunatic justices.”
- El-Sayed’s sister “celebrated the terrorist slaughter of babies on October 7. She thought it was a great day.”
- El-Sayed’s mother “worked for an organization that gave hundreds of thousands of dollars to people that follow Osama bin Laden.”
- El-Sayed “campaigns with a Marxist agitator who says that America deserved 9/11.”
Regarding the judiciary, El-Sayed has advocated for term limits and a system allowing each president an equal number of appointments. While his official platform does not explicitly demand a 23-justice court, he did reply to a post on Truth Social mentioning that figure by writing, “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”
As for his half sister, Eman Abdelhadi—a University of Chicago professor—she published a post on X featuring a Palestinian flag and the words “Morning Freedom” on October 7, 2023, the day Hamas launched attacks resulting in 1,200 deaths and 250 hostages. One year later, she shared an “October 7th blessing” on Instagram calling it a reminder that justice was near, though no record exists of her using the specific phrasing Trump attributed to her.
Regarding his mother, Fatten Fathy Elkomy, records show she was employed by the Islamic American Relief Agency between 1999 and 2004. The U.S. Treasury Department subsequently designated the group and several leaders as supporters of terrorism due to financial ties to Osama bin Laden. However, there is no indication that Elkomy was personally involved in those activities or faced criminal charges. Furthermore, El-Sayed’s parents divorced during his childhood.
Convention speakers also criticized El-Sayed for campaigning alongside Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who identifies as a socialist and Marxist. Piker drew widespread condemnation for a 2019 remark stating that “America deserved 9/11,” a comment he has since walked back. El-Sayed has labeled Piker’s past statement “a dumb statement” that he disagrees with, though he recently told interviewer Stephen A. Smith that he prefers not to completely disavow individuals and aims to engage Piker’s audience in the political process.
James Talarico
Trump also launched sharp criticisms against Texas state Representative James Talarico, who is running against incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton. Alongside unsubstantiated anecdotes regarding Talarico’s dietary habits, Trump accused him of threatening the state’s vital energy sector.
On Gender and Faith: Trump asserted that Talarico “says that God is transgender.” Talarico, who is studying to become a Presbyterian minister, referenced the book of Genesis during a 2021 Texas House debate on transgender athletes, pointing out that Hebrew texts use both masculine and feminine nouns for the divine. He stated at the time that God is “both masculine and feminine and everything in between” and described God as “non-binary.” Discussing the comments recently on Fox News, Talarico clarified that he was being provocative to emphasize that human categories are insufficient to define God.
On Oil and Gas: Trump claimed Talarico authored legislation designed to dismantle the Texas oil and gas industry. While Talarico’s platform states his intention to maintain Texas’ status as an energy leader, he did sponsor the Texas Climate Action Act in 2021, which aimed to set strict greenhouse gas reduction targets. The bill ultimately stalled in committee. In a 2020 reelection campaign video, Talarico also compared the longevity of the oil and gas industry to cassette tapes, though his campaign has since stated that he aims to protect energy jobs while addressing emissions.
On Meat Consumption: Trump repeated claims that Talarico is vegan before adding a fabricated story about Talarico falling ill after eating barbecue at an event. The White House did not provide evidence to support the claim. While Talarico advocated for reducing meat consumption during a 2022 speech, he has confirmed during his current Senate campaign that he does eat meat.
The Economy and Cost of Living
While the convention mostly bypassed economic debates, Trump addressed the issue by dismissing affordability concerns as a Democratic invention, attributing financial pressures to the policies of former President Joe Biden, and highlighting his own administration’s record.
“Food prices and almost every other item are rapidly going down.”
This claim is rated as Mostly False. Overall inflation has risen by roughly 4.3% since the start of Trump’s second term in January 2025, with grocery prices up about 3.4%. Due largely to the conflict in Iran, energy costs have spiked significantly, with gasoline up 31% and electricity rising by over 8%. Although prices for automobiles, eggs, and bread have declined, everyday staples such as coffee, ground beef, and chicken remain more expensive.
“The typical American’s 401k has gone up by almost $50,000.”
While retirement accounts have grown, the figures are notably lower than claimed. Financial data from Fidelity Investments indicated that average 401(k) balances increased by less than $10,000 during the majority of Trump’s second term. Furthermore, account growth is driven largely by personal and employer contributions rather than stock market gains alone.
“I will issue a dividend to every adult citizen in the United States of America for $5,000,” paid from tariff revenue.
Trump conditioned this proposed payout on Republicans securing victories in the midterm elections, echoing similar unfulfilled promises from 2025 regarding a $2,000 dividend. Economic experts and federal data indicate that the math behind the proposal is unfeasible. Federal figures show that tariff collections fell far short of the trillions cited by the administration, and a substantial portion of those funds is currently being refunded to American companies following a Supreme Court ruling against the tariffs. Additionally, any direct payout program would require approval from Congress, which lawmakers have previously declined to pass.