President Donald Trump campaigned in Arizona and Montana on Wednesday as part of a multi-state tour designed to bolster Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 elections. The stops marked the second day of his western swing, following appearances in Alaska on Tuesday and Ohio on Monday.
Arizona Rally and Border Politics
In Bullhead City, Arizona, Trump rallied support for Rep. Andy Biggs, who is running for governor against Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. Mohave County, where the rally took place, has higher poverty and unemployment rates than both the state and the nation, yet Trump won the area with 78 percent of the vote in 2024.
Trump used the platform to criticize Hobbs on border security issues. He accused the governor of doing the bidding of cartels along the U.S.-Mexico border. In response to such criticisms, Hobbs has stated that she strengthened border security by deploying National Guard troops and increasing law enforcement funding. Hobbs defeated Republican Kari Lake four years ago in her bid for the governorship.
Biggs, who has represented a safe GOP seat since winning election in 2016, assisted Trump’s attempt to block the certification of the 2020 election defeat. Notably, Reps. Jay Feely and Juan Ciscomani did not attend the Arizona event.
Montana Stop for Aaron Flint
Trump traveled to Montana’s 1st District to campaign for Aaron Flint, a Republican candidate seeking to succeed retiring Rep. Ryan Zinke. Flint, an Army veteran and talk-radio host, won endorsements from both Trump and Zinke during the June primary.
Flint faces Sam Forstag in the general election. Forstag is a Democratic labor union leader and Forest Service smokejumper. Montana has voted for Trump by double digits in each of his three presidential campaigns, providing a strong baseline for Republican efforts in the state.
Campaign Context and Controversies
The campaign schedule has been described as a “midterm blitz” by new White House press secretary Katie Zacharia. Under three weeks remain before the elections that will determine control of Congress. Trump’s October visits have included Alabama, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas, in addition to the western stops.
During the Arizona rally, Trump defended his decision to accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family as a gift. He stated that he asked to borrow the aircraft before the emir offered it. Trump accepted the airplane last year despite bipartisan criticism.
“When you’re given gifts, you take ’em, right?” Trump said regarding the aircraft.
Trump also discussed White House renovations, including a ballroom, helipad, and a planned triumphal arch. He criticized the media for focusing on “affordability” rather than how well the country is doing.
“The fake news media doesn’t talk about how well we’re doing,” Trump said.
National Election Landscape
The campaign comes as Republicans retreat from some battleground U.S. House races, while Democrats raise money for candidates who were long shots earlier this year. Trump won Arizona in 2016 and 2024 but lost the state in 2020.