MOBILE, Ala. – President Trump told supporters at an Alabama rally Friday that he chose to return to the deep-red state before the midterm elections as a gesture of appreciation to some of his earliest backers.
“I’m here to say hello, I love you and, really, as a sign of respect,” Trump said during his address at the Mitchell Center on the University of South Alabama campus.
“You’ve got to pay respect to people who have loved you right from the beginning,” the president said.
Trump contrasted the Alabama visit with his campaign appearance alongside Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton in Texas on Thursday, saying he traveled there “because we have to win that race.”
At the start of his speech, Trump reflected on Mobile’s role in launching his political movement, recalling that the city hosted his first mega-rally more than a decade ago.
“It sort of all began here,” Trump said.
He recalled that his 2016 campaign initially reserved “a little hotel” in Mobile for the event. As ticket demand surged, organizers moved the rally to a football stadium.
The Aug. 21, 2015, gathering attracted an estimated 30,000 Trump supporters.
“We packed the stadium, and the rest is history,” Trump said.
Trump also announced plans to return to Alabama on Oct. 10, when he will watch the Alabama Crimson Tide face the Georgia Bulldogs in a matchup between two college football powerhouses.
Turning to the elections, the president predicted victories for his endorsed candidates in Alabama, including Sen. Tommy Tuberville in the governor’s race, Rep. Barry Moore in the Senate contest, and congressional candidates Rhett Marques and Jerry Carl.
“All these guys – they’re going to win, but you’ve still got to get out to vote,” Trump said, again telling supporters to “pretend that I’m on the ballot.”
Later in the speech, Trump highlighted what he described as “$3 billion in funding from the Trump administration” for a new I-10 corridor bridge. He joked that Tuberville could name the project after him if he wins the governorship.
“That’s a lot of money … $3 billion … maybe they’ll name the damn bridge after me, and I’ll be happy,” Trump said.
