President Trump tried to boost support for Republican candidates among young voters with a midterm election campaign-style rally sponsored by Turning Point USA, the group founded by slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The event, dubbed “Build the Red Wall,” is part of Turning Point’s strategy to support Republicans in the so-called Red Wall states of Arizona and Nevada, which went for Mr. Trump in the 2024 election. Mr. Trump was able to flip the two states that were carried by President Biden in the 2020 election.
“If you want a poor and weak America, a country that is riddled with crime, death, disease and nothing but problems, you should vote Democrat. If you want a rich and strong country that you’re going to be proud of, you must go out in the midterms and vote Republican,” Mr. Trump said at the Friday evening rally in Phoenix. “We need that.”
Mr. Trump lamented the political axiom that typically, the party that controls the White House loses seats in Congress because of voters’ perpetual voter dissatisfaction. He touted his record, saying he doesn’t understand why anyone would vote for Democrats based on his record.
“It doesn’t make sense. Even if you have a president who’s doing as good a job and I think I’m doing the best job of anyone, really,” Mr. Trump said. “But if you add it all up, no one’s done what we’ve done.”
The president joked that he’d hire “a couple of psychiatrists” to figure out what “is going on” in the minds of voters who support Democrats.
Mr. Trump highlighted his record, championing his tax cuts, immigration reform, and efforts to stop biological men from competing in women’s sports. He also thumped his chest over the war in Iran, saying the Strait of Hormuz is now open to shipping traffic and negotiations to end the conflict are nearing completion.
“This will be a great and brilliant day for the world because Iran has just announced that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open and ready for business and full passage,” he said.
Turning Point was founded to attract young voters to Republican candidates. Kirk’s wife, Erica Kirk, took over as Turning Point USA CEO and chair after his assassination last September. She spoke at the event, introducing Mr. Trump.
“Charlie’s voice is not silenced. It is roaring and roaring back louder, frankly, than ever before,” Mr. Trump said. “His message is unstoppable. His mission is totally unstoppable.”
