Republicans Charge $88,600 for a Photo With Trump at Midterms Convention

Dallas, Texas —

Republicans heading to their party's midterms convention in Dallas can pay $88,600 for a photo with President Donald Trump, according to an invitation cited by the Wall Street Journal and reported by Independent US Politics. Donors willing to spend $250,000 can join Trump at a roundtable discussion, the invitation shows.

A photo with Vice President JD Vance costs less: $35,000, according to the same invitation. The convention runs September 9 and 10 at the American Airlines Center. Parties typically hold national conventions only in presidential election years, to formally nominate a candidate for the White House. With no nominee to certify this year, it's unclear what "delegate" status even means at the event, Independent US Politics reported, though several state party websites are still selling "honorary delegate" status for as much as $20,000.

Members of the House of Representatives face their own price tag. Puck News reported that lawmakers are being charged $25,000 to attend, with some top tier tickets running as high as $100,000. Rep. Beth Van Duyne of Texas, finance chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, defended the cost to TMZ DC, saying the party needs to "make sure that we're supporting other candidates who are in very tough, competitive races around the country."

Criticism And Timing Questions

One unnamed Republican consultant told The Huffington Post the gathering was "not a real convention" but rather "a grifter free-for-all," according to Independent US Politics. Critics have also pointed to the scheduling: the convention opens the same day as the NFL season opener and wraps up a day before the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.

The RNC has said it expects about 30,000 attendees and has already raised $42 million, enough to fully fund the event, according to Independent US Politics. Texas was chosen partly because of the state's competitive Senate race, where Republican Ken Paxton, the state attorney general, faces Democrat James Talarico, who has outraised Paxton $68 million to $9 million.

Trump's Midterm Push

Trump has decided to campaign heavily this cycle despite approval ratings in the low 30s, Independent US Politics reported. He told Fox News host Trey Gowdy that presidents typically lose seats in midterms "whether you're a Republican or Democrat."

Trump pledged this week to campaign in 35 races over the final weeks before the November election, NBC News reported, including trips to Alaska for Sen. Dan Sullivan and to Texas for Paxton. His super PAC, MAGA Inc., has more than $400 million on hand, according to the latest campaign finance filings cited by NBC News.