President Trump did not hold back!
President Donald Trump got into a tense exchange with ABC News reporter Mary Bruce on Wednesday after she questioned him about Republican candidates who are not attending the GOP’s midterm convention in Dallas.
The exchange came as Trump prepared to travel to Texas for the two-day Republican gathering, where the president is playing a central role in the party’s effort to generate enthusiasm ahead of the November midterm elections.
Reporter Questions Trump About Missing Republicans
Trump had been answering questions from reporters on several subjects when Bruce turned the conversation toward Republican candidates who are staying away from the Dallas event.
She pointed out that several Republicans running in competitive races were not planning to attend and asked Trump whether he understood their decision.
Trump quickly pushed back against the premise.
He maintained that there was strong demand to attend the convention and said organizers expected a packed event. He then asked Bruce which news organization she represented.
When Bruce identified ABC News, Trump criticized the network before offering a more detailed explanation for why some Republican politicians would not be appearing in Dallas.
Trump Explains Why Some Candidates Are Staying Home
According to Trump, space limitations meant the convention could not accommodate every politician who might otherwise attend.
The president said organizers were prioritizing Republicans involved in close elections while encouraging candidates with comfortable leads to remain home and continue campaigning.
Trump maintained that the Republican politicians organizers specifically wanted at the convention would be there.
His explanation comes as Republican candidates across the country make strategic decisions about how to spend the final stretch before Election Day.
Some candidates in competitive contests have chosen to remain in their states or congressional districts rather than travel to Dallas.
Convention organizers have offered a similar explanation for at least some of the absences, arguing that candidates facing difficult elections may benefit more from campaigning at home.
Trump and ABC Have a Complicated History
The sharp exchange with Bruce also highlighted Trump’s long-running friction with ABC News.
Trump has repeatedly criticized the network and several of its prominent personalities.
ABC previously reached a settlement with Trump following a defamation lawsuit involving comments made by anchor George Stephanopoulos. The dispute became another chapter in Trump’s broader battles with major media organizations.
Trump has also publicly criticized ABC over late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, whose program has frequently featured jokes and commentary about the president.
That history added another layer to Wednesday’s confrontation after Bruce identified herself as an ABC News correspondent.
WATCH:
🔥 LMFAO! Donald Trump is BODYING the fake news outside Air Force One
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) September 9, 2026
ABC: Why are some Republicans not coming to the convention?
TRUMP: We're sold out. Who are you with?
ABC: ABC News, sir.
TRUMP: ABC FAKE NEWS! You are the WORST of all! The reason some people aren't coming… pic.twitter.com/ueqr3YVq1e
GOP Convention Puts Trump Center Stage
The Dallas gathering is an unusual event for a midterm election year.
Unlike the traditional national conventions held during presidential election cycles, the event does not have the responsibility of formally nominating a presidential candidate.
Instead, Republicans are using the two-day gathering as a combination of political rally, fundraising event and national showcase ahead of the November elections.
Trump is scheduled to play a major role in the proceedings, including appearances on both nights. Vice President JD Vance and numerous Republican officials and candidates are also part of the convention program.
More than 100 Republican House members and candidates were expected to participate, according to reporting surrounding the event.
At the same time, several Republicans facing competitive elections have decided to remain on the campaign trail rather than make the trip to Texas.
Trump Predicts a Big Crowd
Despite questions about individual Republican candidates skipping the gathering, Trump expressed confidence about turnout.
Before traveling to Dallas, the president described the event as sold out and predicted an enthusiastic crowd.
Trump also said the convention would give his administration an opportunity to present its record to voters and highlight what he considers its major accomplishments.
Republicans are hoping the gathering can energize supporters during the final stretch of the midterm campaign, when control of Congress is at stake.
The GOP currently holds narrow congressional majorities, making competitive House and Senate contests especially important as Election Day approaches.
Candidates Face a Strategic Choice
The controversy over attendance also illustrates a familiar campaign calculation.
Appearing with a sitting president at a major national event can generate publicity and potentially energize loyal party voters. Staying home, however, gives candidates additional time to campaign directly in their states and districts.
Republican convention organizers have acknowledged that reality.
Some officials involved with the event have said there are limited speaking opportunities and that politicians facing competitive elections may have legitimate reasons to remain on the campaign trail.
That context makes the disagreement between Trump and Bruce partly a dispute over how the candidates’ absences should be interpreted.
Bruce’s question focused on Republicans in competitive races who were not attending. Trump rejected any suggestion that the absences reflected reluctance to participate and instead characterized them as a matter of space and campaign strategy.
Midterm Battle Intensifies
With the November elections approaching, decisions surrounding the Dallas convention are receiving heightened attention because Republicans are fighting to maintain control of Congress.
For Trump, the convention provides a national platform to make the case for his administration’s record and encourage supporters to turn out even though his own name will not appear on the ballot.
For individual Republican candidates, the political calculation may be different depending on the dynamics of their races.
Wednesday’s tense exchange with Bruce ultimately turned what might have been a routine question about convention attendance into another high-profile confrontation between Trump and the national media.
And with the midterm campaign entering its decisive final weeks, both the president’s message in Dallas and the choices made by Republican candidates are likely to remain under close scrutiny.