Trump Lands in Dallas, Warns Obama to 'Stay Out' — GOP Showdown Begins

President Donald Trump touched down in Dallas on Wednesday for the first-ever Republican midterm convention, a two-day "Trumpapalooza" aimed at rallying the party base just 55 days before the November elections . Before taking the stage, Trump issued a stark warning to former President Barack Obama, telling him to "stay out" of the administration's foreign policy and domestic affairs—just as a new poll shows the GOP is deeply divided over the president's unpopularity .

DALLAS – President Donald Trump arrived in Dallas on Wednesday for a high-stakes gathering of the Republican Party, a first-of-its-kind midterm convention designed to put him at the center of the November elections . But before the speeches began, the president made clear he is not willing to share the spotlight—or the stage—with his Democratic predecessors.

Speaking to reporters upon landing at Dallas Love Field, Trump warned Barack Obama to stay out of U.S. foreign policy and domestic affairs, declaring that the former president "has no authority to speak on behalf of the United States" . The warning came just days after Obama delivered a scathing speech at the Democratic National Convention, where he called Trump a "whining billionaire who has never had to earn a thing in his life."

Trump's rebuke also follows Obama's exclusive interview with ABC News, in which the former president expressed doubt that any Trump administration deal with Iran would be a "significant improvement" over the 2015 nuclear agreement he negotiated.

The Dallas Convention: 'Trumpapalooza'

The convention, dubbed "Trumpapalooza" by organizers and critics alike, is an unprecedented experiment in midterm campaigning . Unlike traditional national conventions held every four years to nominate presidential candidates, this two-day event is designed to rally Republicans around Trump's record—even as his approval rating hovers around 33-35%, according to recent polls .

Trump is scheduled to speak on both nights—delivering a keynote address on Wednesday and closing remarks on Thursday—while Vice President JD Vance is set to speak on Thursday . The lineup includes House Speaker Mike Johnson, Attorney General Todd Blanche, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and several battleground Senate candidates .

But the event has exposed deep divisions within the party. An Associated Press survey found that a majority of Republican candidates in tight races are either skipping the convention or have yet to commit . Some cited campaign commitments or family obligations; others balked at the steep attendance fees—$25,000 for members of Congress, and up to $250,000 for a roundtable with the president .

Obama's Double-Edged Warning

Trump's warning to Obama is the latest chapter in a decade-long feud between the two presidents. On Wednesday, the current president told reporters that Obama should "stay out" of U.S. affairs, echoing his own 2013 tweets warning Obama to "stay out of Syria" .

The timing is significant. Obama has re-emerged as a central figure in the Democratic campaign, delivering a fiery address at the DNC and sitting for an exclusive interview with ABC News this week. In that interview, Obama said he was "doubtful" that any Trump deal with Iran would be different from the 2015 JCPOA, and he warned against the notion that the U.S. can "bully" or "bomb" its way to solutions.

"Taking the time to explore diplomacy and exhaust the possibilities of coming up with deals that don't solve 100% of the problem but solve 80%, 90% of the problem while avoiding the necessity of going to war," Obama told ABC's Robin Roberts. "You'd think we would've learned that lesson by now."

A Party at a Crossroads

The Dallas convention is a gamble for Republicans. With Trump's approval rating at its lowest point in either of his two terms, and with the Iran war, high gas prices, and a trade dispute with Canada weighing on voters' minds, some GOP strategists worry that tying candidates too closely to the president could be a liability .

But Trump and his allies are betting that the base will turn out for him, even when his name isn't on the ballot. "The president's going to look right into the camera and say, 'I am on the ballot,'" House Speaker Mike Johnson told supporters ahead of the event .

"If you are tired of a president who spends more time whining than working, then get in the fight," Obama said at the DNC. "Hope is not a strategy, but it's a start. And right now, hope is what we've got. So let's get to work."