Donald Trump was asked a simple question about Republicans skipping his new midterm convention in Dallas. His response quickly turned personal.
As Trump prepared to leave for the two-day GOP gathering Wednesday, ABC News chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce asked him about Republican lawmakers and candidates in competitive races who had decided not to attend.
Several notable Republicans are skipping the event, including lawmakers and candidates facing tough races this fall. The convention is being held as Republicans try to rally around Trump ahead of the midterm elections.
Trump did not exactly welcome the question.
“Everybody’s coming to the convention,” he insisted, before claiming the event would be sold out.
Bruce pressed him on why Republicans in competitive races were staying away.
Trump then asked who she was with.
“ABC News, sir,” Bruce replied.
“ABC Fake News,” Trump shot back. “You are the worst of all, in my opinion.”
The exchange came as Trump sought to downplay the growing attention surrounding the no-shows.
Trump has previously said he wanted candidates in tight races to attend, but he has also insisted there simply wasn’t enough room for everyone. On Wednesday, he claimed the absences were largely a matter of capacity, saying the convention didn’t have room for hundreds of politicians.
That explanation comes as several Republicans in competitive races have chosen to stay away from the first-ever GOP midterm convention.
The event, informally dubbed “Trump-a-Palooza,” is heavily centered around the president, who is scheduled to speak Wednesday and Thursday. The Republican Party is using the gathering to energize its base ahead of the November elections.
But the attendance question has become an unavoidable part of the story.
Trump’s answer was to insist that everyone who matters will be there—and then turn his frustration toward the reporter asking about it.
Bruce, meanwhile, simply asked the question.
Watch the clip below:
Reporter: Several Republicans in competitive races are not coming to the convention.
Trump: Everybody wants to come. We're going to be sold out tonight. Who are you with?
Reporter: ABC News.
Trump: ABC Fake News. The reason that some people are not, is because we don't have a… pic.twitter.com/hrVbEDhOkU
— Acyn (@Acyn) September 9, 2026
