As expected, Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck attended the GOP’s inaugural 2026 Republican Midterm Convention, primarily drawn by President Trump’s keynote address on September 9.
In a recent episode of “The Glenn Beck Program,” he discussed four key moments from Trump’s speech that shed light on his character and the areas where his message may still not be resonating.
1. Long-term vision
Since Trump resumed office in 2025, Glenn has been advocating for his agenda as focusing on long-term foundations rather than quick fixes.
One particular line from Trump’s speech stood out to him: “And I want you to remember me in four or five years when this country is rocketing. Remember, I’m the one that got it started.”
According to Glenn, this underscores Trump’s long-term planning. “He’s repairing the infrastructure. … While people are saying, ‘The wallpaper is peeling, and the kitchen table is broken,’ he’s focused on stabilizing the whole foundation,” he explains.
He also pointed out Trump’s modest use of “started”—indicating that the progress isn’t solely his doing. “It shows it’s more than just him,” Glenn notes, suggesting this might be a subtle but telling moment about Trump’s humility.
2. Campaigning for a party that hasn’t delivered
Trump’s humility became apparent when he spoke positively about efforts related to the southern border wall.
He remarked, “Ted Cruz worked very hard on the wall and so did John Cornyn,” highlighting their contributions.
“We built this massive, beautiful wall. Beautiful because it works. … Zero illegal aliens have entered our country from the southern border in the last 15 months,” Trump stated.
This moment was significant for Glenn, who interpreted Trump’s praise for the senators as an act of grace, especially considering how little those politicians have done for him lately. Given their poor prospects in the midterm elections and the likelihood the media will cast any losses as “Trump’s failure,” Glenn sees Trump’s involvement as an act of service “for the country, not for himself.”
3. An unpopular assist
Trump also drew attention to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) even though it was met with boos from the audience.
He said, “John is working hard. … He’s facing tough opposition from Democrat Schumer and those guys. They’re terrible. … He’s going to have great success, you watch. We are going to have great success with our Republican senators.”
Glenn remarked that he’s never seen Trump lose an audience before. “He’s indicating that he needs this guy. … I’m not sure this is a winning strategy, but it’s something the press said he’d never do,” he observed.
4. A number that doesn’t land
Yet, Glenn highlighted another moment involving foreign investment numbers as the “biggest” in the speech, though not positively.
Trump mentioned, “We have more money being spent from outside countries and companies — over $20 trillion. That’s five, six, seven times higher than any country ever.”
Glenn felt the audience’s applause for this number was more of a reflexive response. “He needs to change how he presents this,” he criticized, emphasizing that Trump should focus on the practical implications—how these investments are positively impacting Americans.
“How are they investing? They’re setting up factories. This signifies that we’re going to produce again in our own country. … That $20 trillion translates into jobs for your kids. We’ll be building American strength back,” he enthused.
Glenn urged Trump to prioritize clear benefits over abstract numbers, ensuring that the “average person” grasps how his actions benefit them. “He’s not speaking in a way that resonates with everyone, but still, I think the entire crowd left feeling positively toward him,” he said.
To catch more of Glenn’s insights, check out the video above.
