Despite the 7,000-seat Covelli Centre in Youngstown having an unusually sparse audience at showtime, Donald Trump talked about his “sold out” Ohio event in front of a “huge crowd” on Saturday.
Through his Truth Social social media network, the former president presented his assertions. In addition, Trump said that without his support, the majority of Republicans ‘would lose’ their elections.
An important college football game between Ohio State University and the University of Toledo is taking place at the same time as the demonstration.
The former president said that he is in Ohio because Republican Senate candidate JD Vance, who is engaged in a close contest with Democratic House Rep. Tim Ryan, urged him to campaign there.
Prior to Trump’s speech, Vance addressed the audience, saying: “We need to return to the policies of the real Donald Trump, not false Tim Ryan trying to be someone he is not.”
Ryan was accused of misleading voters about his views on a number of subjects, including as defunding the police, by the author of Hillbilly Elegy. Ryan has made it clear that he opposes initiatives to cut funding for police enforcement.
Additionally, Vance has been charged by the Democratic candidate of favoring defunding police operations.
You should be allowed to drive whatever the heck automobile you want because this is America and we believe in freedom, Vance said in response to Ryan’s position on gas-powered cars.
He accused Ryan of pretending to be a moderate adding that the congressman ‘votes with Joe Biden 100 percent of the time.’
Vance added: ‘We need to kick DC Tim to the curb, make him go back home and get a real job for once.’
Trump is rallying for Ohio Senate candidate JD Vance in Youngstown on Saturday night
The rally is going on at the same time as a major football game between two Ohio colleges
The stadium is about two-thirds full now, less than an hour before Trump is expected to take the stage
‘Both J.D. Vance and Dr. Oz asked me to do big Rallies for them in Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively, and I did,’ Trump wrote in an earlier statement.
‘The Pennsylvania Rally was a massive success, ‘packed’ with great American Patriots, and the Ohio Rally, tonight, is a likewise sold out juggernaut – Look at the massive crowds.’
He added, ‘Both candidates wanted this and I, as usual, delivered. ALL Republican candidates want Rallies. Without the Rallies and, even more importantly, the Endorsements, most would lose. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!’
Trump’s Congressional ally Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia joined a crowded list of speakers at the Saturday rally, where she got a standing ovation.
Trump has played a heavy hand in Ohio’s midterm races, endorsing 14 candidates for Congress or the governorship – more that he has in any other state save for Texas.
The 2020 presidential race saw Buckeye State voters choose Trump over President Joe Biden by a margin of about 8 percent.
Saturday’s rally is a test of his lingering influence in the critical battleground – joining Trump on stage will be all four Congressional hopefuls that he’s backed, as well as pro-Trump stalwart Reps. Jim Jordan and Bill Johnson.
The former president’s support helped author and venture capitalist Vance clinch the GOP Senate primary despite a crowded race full of MAGA hopefuls.
Trump bragged about the crowd sizes at the Ohio rally and his rally in Pennsylvania
He’s facing Democratic House Rep. Tim Ryan in November to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Rob Portman.
As an added jab at the left-wing populist, Saturday’s rally is in Ryan’s current Congressional district.
Vance and Ryan are currently locked in a close race. A Friday poll from Emerson College Polling/The Hill had the ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ author leading Ryan by four percent.
But he’s wildly popular among Trump supporters, judging by the enthusiastic cheers when he took the stage on Saturday.
Trump’s pick for Ohio’s 7th Congressional District is his former White House aide Max Miller, whose wedding the ex-president officiated at his Bedminster golf course in August.
He’s also supporting conservative commentator and former Miss Ohio Madison Gesiotto Gilbert in the 13th Congressional District.
Also at Saturday night’s rally is Air Force veteran J.R. Majewski, who is vying to unseat vulnerable Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur in the 9th district. Majewski was present on the US Capitol grounds when a mob of Trump supporters overwhelmed law enforcement and stormed the building.
Notably absent is Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, whom Trump only recently endorsed despite the Republican leader disputing Trump’s claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged.
Last year DeWine also defended Ohio Rep. Anthony Gonzalez for his vote to impeach Trump over the Capitol riot. ‘He made that call. That was his decision. I think he’s been a good member of Congress. He should not resign,’ DeWine said.
DeWine told the Youngstown Vindicator on Friday that he was missing the rally to watch his granddaughters participate in an evening cross country race event going on at the same time.