Melania Trump Reportedly Set To Skip Midterm Convention In Texas Next Week
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First lady Melania Trump will reportedly not attend next week's Republican Party midterm convention in Dallas, adding to a growing list of prominent figures also expected to be skipping the event.
A White House official told The Independent on Friday that the first lady is not expected to appear at the two-day event, aimed at bolstering the GOP's chances in the midterm elections.
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The news was first reported by the Washington Examiner, and the White House did not immediately respond to HuffPost's request for comment.
Reports of the first lady's absence follow 45 GOP lawmakers telling Politico they will skip the convention. Many of them cited "prior obligations" or told the outlet they'd be campaigning in their districts.
An unnamed Republican lawmaker called the convention a "waste of time."
"You shouldn't be having to rally your base at this point. You should be trying to convince independents," the lawmaker told Politico.
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Others said they did not want to be closely associated with President Donald Trump as his approval rating continues to hover in the low 30s.
"I can't control what the president's going to say at the convention, but I can control where I'm at, what I'm doing," Rep. Tom Barrett (R-Mich.) told Politico.
Those lawmakers expected to attend the event include Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), according to Politico.
Candidates in key battleground states will also be attending the convention, including former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) and Sen. Jon Husted (R-Ohio).
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Trump is expected to deliver speeches during both nights of the convention.
