Elections & Democracy
JD Vance calls Democrats ‘party of hatred’
US Vice President JD Vance called Democrats the “party of hatred” in a prime-time convention speech in Dallas, urging voters to back Republicans in November’s midterm elections.
“The Democrats are the party of hatred. They're the party that despises America and the people who built it. They're the party that can find sympathy for the terrorists who perpetrated 9/11,” Vance said.
Vance used the address to portray Democrats as extremists and said divisions inside the Republican coalition were smaller than those on the political left. He also said Democratic candidates would tell children “what they're allowed to say, how they're allowed to live, and, importantly, who they ought to hate.”
President Donald Trump returned to the stage after Vance and praised him, saying: “What a job he did tonight!” Trump then urged supporters to treat the midterms as a vote on him even though he is not on the ballot.
“I'm not on the ticket. You got to pretend I'm on the ticket,” Trump said. “You've got to do this for me.”
Decision Desk HQ projects Democrats will win the House 229-206 and says the Senate is on a knife-edge at 50-50. Trump’s approval rating has been in the low-to-mid 30s amid stubborn inflation and an unpopular war with Iran.
Trump also repeated his promise from Wednesday to pay every American adult a $5,000 “Trump dividend” if Republicans retain both chambers of Congress.
Vance focused heavily on family and fatherhood and paid tribute to conservative youth activist Charlie Kirk on the first anniversary of his killing. His speech was briefly interrupted by a protester waving a Mexican flag; Vance responded that he would buy the protester a plane ticket to Mexico.
The speech gave Vance one of the convention’s most prominent speaking slots as Republicans consider their post-Trump future. Vance is widely regarded as an early front-runner for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, although he has said he will not decide until after the midterms.
The convention resembled an extended Trump rally more than a traditional party meeting, with no nominations or formal business. Organizers said 20,000 spectators attended Wednesday’s opening day.
Update
Donald Trump praised JD Vance after the speech and said Democrats were getting nervous.
Trump urged supporters to act as if he were on the ballot in the midterm elections.
The convention had no nominations or formal business and more than 50 speakers or presentations each night.
Organizers said 20,000 spectators attended the opening day, while parts of Trump’s speech had visible gaps in the crowd.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 02:49:51 UTC.
Update
JD Vance called Democrats the “party of hatred” in the speech.
Vance said Democrats “despise America and the people who built it.”
Vance said Democrats “can find sympathy for the terrorists who perpetrated 9/11.”
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 September 2026 at 02:11:43 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The outcome of the midterm elections is not known.
Vance has not announced whether he will seek the 2028 Republican presidential nomination.
The proposed $5,000 dividend depends on Republicans retaining both chambers of Congress.
Source
AFP news report published on .