President Donald Trump hit Ohio on Saturday, dropping his signature "golden age" rhetoric and pushing voters to help Republicans snag midterm wins in November. The former president rallied supporters in Vandalia, near Dayton, for Senate candidate Jon Husted and gubernatorial hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy.
Trump, who carried Ohio in his three presidential runs, told the crowd, "Just pretend that I'm on the ballot. And you need to turn out for a midterm victory." He’s traveling the U.S. in these final weeks before the election, boosting the GOP.
The economic pitch was front and center. Trump bragged that Ohio is "booming," shouting out major investments like a $400 million Stellantis project in Toledo and an $850 million Electra aerospace deal near Springfield. He also highlighted Bayer's planned $2.2 billion pharmaceutical campus near Columbus, which is set to create 600 permanent and 1,500 construction jobs.
"Your state is booming," Trump declared. "Every state is booming."
He credited these wins to his tariff policy, saying it's leveling the playing field and incentivizing companies to build in the U.S. instead of overseas.
Trump also backed Husted's Ratepayer Protection Act, a bill designed to shield consumers from rising electricity costs linked to data centers. He vowed to sign it immediately if Congress sends it his way. "I will sign this Ratepayer Protection Act into law immediately," Trump said.
Beyond Ohio, Trump painted a picture of national economic success, citing stock market highs, manufacturing growth, and job numbers. He contrasted this with the current administration's record.
He then pivoted to immigration, dedicating a reading of the poem "The Snake" to Springfield, Ohio, which he called a flashpoint over an influx of Haitian nationals. "That's what happened at our border," he stated, referencing his administration's crackdown.
He also briefly touched on Venezuela, claiming the U.S. profited massively from its oil resources after the military operation against Nicolas Maduro. "We paid for the cost of the war many, many times over," Trump said. "We're making a fortune with it."
With the election just 31 days away, Trump urged Ohioans to vote for Husted, Ramaswamy, and Republican congressional candidates. He even pitched Ohio as a potential location for the U.S. National Space Academy, citing its aviation history and the Wright brothers.
Why it matters
Trump is leveraging his influence to drive turnout for Republican candidates in critical midterm elections. His focus on economic wins and immigration aims to energize his base and sway undecided voters, with Ohio being a key battleground state.
