CORINTH, Miss.—President Donald Trump headlined a rally supporting Republican candidates with eight days left before the midterm elections.
Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) is running against Democrat prosecutor Scott Colom and independent Ty Pinkins in a deep-red state, with recent polls showing the Republican with a slight edge.
“I’m here because Cindy’s doing great, but I just got to make sure,” Trump told about 8,000 supporters packed in the Crossroads Arena in northeastern Mississippi on Monday night. “I can’t take a chance.”
He praised the senator’s leadership role in the Buying American Cotton Act, which aims to incentivize domestic textile production with tax credits and other mechanisms.
Trump noted the impact of rising beef prices, requesting Hyde-Smith work with ranchers to increase the size of their herds to maximize domestic production.
“We want to have more, and we want to have it made here,” Trump said. “Please get your herds up, a little bit, if you don’t mind.”
The issue is high-profile in the race, with an ad from Colom’s campaign attacking Hyde-Smith for a comment she made about “picking another protein” if costs are too high, drawing attention in recent weeks.
With a limited number of working days before the Senate’s session ends, Trump asked lawmakers to prioritize passing the daylight saving-related bill passed by the House of Representatives, known as the Sunshine Protection Act, which would end twice-yearly clock changes.
“It drives everyone crazy, which nobody wants to do anymore,” Trump said. “Everybody wants it done. Most people are demanding sunlight.”
Some attendees waited in line more than nine hours to see Trump; others who tried to get in later in the day were turned away after the arena filled to capacity. Visitors arrived from across the tri-state area, some driving from nearby Tennessee and Alabama.
The president spoke for about 90 minutes, weaving comedy with calls to action and urging those in attendance to vote early and down the ballot for the GOP.
After renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Lake Ontario to Lake America, the president told the crowd he’s now considering an ocean and a river for similar treatment.
“I’m thinking about the Atlantic Ocean. We call it the American Ocean. I think Europe will be thrilled,” Trump said while promising not to change the Mississippi River’s name.
He also mentioned former President Barack Obama’s recent campaign appearance, where Obama criticized Trump’s remodeling of the Executive Mansion and other projects.
According to Trump, upgrades to the White House are meant to project strength and dignity to the world.
“I don’t think any building represents our country more so than that gorgeous, beautiful White House,” Trump said. “And we have to fix it. So, I report to you that it is in better shape than it’s ever been.”
Hyde-Smith, the first woman to represent the Magnolia State in Congress, said a vote for her and other conservatives is essential to achieving the party’s goals over the next two years.
“The president needs Republicans to keep this positive momentum going,” she said.
Mississippi does not offer early voting, though absentee ballots are available through Oct. 31.
After Trump joked about Colom’s name and dismissed his policies, the Democratic nominee rejected the president’s criticisms.
“I’m running to help you keep your promise to put America first: Lower costs. No more endless wars. Release the Epstein files. Remember those?” Colom wrote on X after the rally ended.
A protester screaming for Epstein file transparency interrupted the president’s remarks but was quickly escorted out of the arena after Trump accused him of being a paid provocateur.
Singer-songwriter Darryl Worley introduced the president and sang his well-known patriotic ballad “Have You Forgotten,” released in 2003.
“This is probably the most important opening act gig I’ve ever had,” Worley said.
“If you look around, pay attention to what’s happening in our nation right now, I think a whole bunch of people have forgotten.”
With slightly more than a week remaining before voters decide the political makeup in Washington, D.C., Trump is on a whirlwind tour of the nation, with scheduled stops in Texas, Ohio, Florida, and Iowa. More appearances are possible, with daily updates to the president’s agenda.
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