Vance closes GOP convention with fiery speech as 2028 buzz builds

Vice President JD Vance delivered a combative keynote address on Thursday, September 10, closing the Republican Party's first-ever midterm convention at the American Airlines Center in Dallas. The event, designed to rally support for protecting the party's narrow congressional majorities in the November elections, featured speeches from Vance and former President Donald Trump, with a strong focus on party unity and attacks against Democrats. In his roughly 40-minute speech, Vance called Democrats "the party of hatred" and accused them of despising America. He urged voters to send them packing in November, framing the election as a choice between Republican common sense and Democratic extremism. The speech was briefly interrupted by a protester waving a Mexican flag, who was removed by security. Vance responded from the stage, telling the protester, "If you love Mexico so much, get your ass over there. I'll buy you the plane ticket," which drew extended chants of "USA" from the crowd. Vance's address positioned him as a leading contender for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination.