The Midterm Convention and the Politics of Spectacle

A New Proposal from Trump

When House Speaker Mike Johnson took questions at a recent press briefing, he surprised many by sharing an unusual idea from former President Donald Trump.

“The president called me when I was on the road,” Johnson recounted. “He said, ‘Mike, I got a great idea … how about a midterm convention?’”

According to Johnson, Trump described the plan as “genius.” Unlike the traditional presidential nominating conventions held every four years, this would be something new: a national Republican gathering in the middle of the cycle — a moment to rally the faithful, celebrate achievements, and showcase momentum ahead of the fall elections.

Johnson added that Trump was enthusiastic, saying it would be “such a great rallying point for us in the fall … to the momentum that we have so much to sell and talk about and, and, and celebrate.” The former president also signaled plans to consult with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and newly appointed Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters about the logistics.

“Trump loves the big show,” Johnson commented, a nod to the performative side of American politics that Trump mastered. And, as Johnson noted, news of the proposal began circulating almost immediately after his phone call with the former president — a sign of how quickly Trump’s ideas enter the public arena.

What a Midterm Convention Means

On one level, the proposal is clever political theater. Conventions traditionally energize supporters at the beginning of a general election campaign; holding one mid-cycle would serve as a dramatic demonstration of strength, a way to project unity and confidence.

It would also reflect a shift in how political parties view campaigning. Once, midterms were low-turnout, lower-drama affairs — a referendum on the sitting president, but rarely a stage for innovation. Trump’s idea seeks to flip that: to turn a midterm into a headline-dominating spectacle, blurring the lines between campaign and movement, between governance and performance.

In the short term, this could benefit Republicans by motivating their base, capturing media attention, and signaling that they are not merely reacting to events but setting the narrative.

The Politics of the Big Show

Yet, beneath the excitement lies a deeper question: what role does spectacle play in democracy? America has long had its pageantry — the fireworks, the rallies, the banners. But in recent decades, politics has become increasingly indistinguishable from entertainment. Candidates are judged not only on policies but on stagecraft, charisma, and their ability to dominate a news cycle.

Trump embodies this shift more than anyone. He understands the emotional power of large gatherings, the way crowds amplify confidence, and the magnetism of being at the center of attention. The “midterm convention” fits perfectly into this ethos: politics as performance, where visibility is victory.

But history cautions us: whenever politics becomes too much theater, substance risks being lost. The Roman Empire once fed its people panem et circenses — bread and circuses — to distract from decay within. Spectacle is not inherently wrong, but when it overshadows accountability, it becomes dangerous.

A Tradition of Rallies — and Their Limits

American history offers parallels. Franklin Roosevelt used “fireside chats” to bypass newspapers and speak directly to citizens through radio. John F. Kennedy used television debates to project youthful vigor. Barack Obama mastered the large rally as a symbol of generational change. Each of these leaders used new forms of communication to strengthen connection.

But they balanced theater with substance. Roosevelt paired his chats with the New Deal. Kennedy followed rhetoric with space exploration and civil rights proposals. Obama paired soaring oratory with concrete policies like healthcare reform.

The lesson: spectacle alone cannot sustain trust. Without real action, it becomes a hollow performance.

Reflection: Between Show and Service

The “midterm convention” reveals the duality of modern politics: the hunger for hope, and the danger of hollow showmanship. People gather at rallies because they long for belonging, for energy, for the reassurance that they are part of something bigger. This is a deeply human need — to be seen, to be part of a collective vision.

But what sustains nations is not applause, but justice. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ reminded us: “The leader of a people is their servant.” Service is quiet, often unseen, and rarely glamorous. It is the opposite of spectacle.

So while a midterm convention might inspire, it cannot replace the slow, unglamorous work of addressing healthcare costs, balancing budgets, protecting rights, or healing divisions. The American public must discern: is the “big show” building substance, or distracting from it?

The Citizen’s Responsibility

In times when politics leans into spectacle, the responsibility of the citizen grows. It is easy to be dazzled by lights and rhetoric, to confuse energy for direction. But discernment is part of civic virtue. Ibn Ata’illah al-Iskandari, the great Sufi sage, once wrote: “Do not look at the form of the act, but look at the light of sincerity within it.”

Applied here: don’t look only at the form of the convention, the banners, the chants, the soundbites. Ask: what sincerity lies beneath? What concrete plans accompany it? What sacrifices are leaders themselves making for the public good?

The Soft Heart, Firm Spine Response

So how should a reader respond? With openness, but not naivety.

• Soft heart: Acknowledge that people are moved by shows of unity and strength. Understand the human need behind it — the desire for belonging, security, and celebration. Do not mock those who are energized by such events.

• Firm spine: Insist on substance. Hold leaders accountable not just for the energy they generate, but for the results they deliver. Remember that a convention, no matter how dazzling, cannot heal healthcare, balance inflation, or restore fractured trust.

Closing Word

If a midterm convention comes to pass, it will no doubt capture headlines and fill stadiums. It will generate excitement and perhaps even change the momentum of an election cycle. But history and wisdom remind us: nations are not sustained by rallies, but by righteousness.

Spectacle can inspire — but only substance can endure. The task of citizens is to discern between the two, to look past the show and into the heart of the matter. For in politics, as in life, what glitters may attract the eye, but what is grounded in service is what truly lasts.