Trump touts ‘golden age’ at Ohio rally, urges voters to deliver GOP midterm wins
Trump rallies Ohio crowds, urging GOP to keep control of Congress
Dayton, Ohio — President Donald Trump arrived in the Buckeye State on Saturday night for a three‑night tour of the Midwest, delivering a rally outside the city of Dayton that highlighted what he calls a “golden age” of American prosperity. The former president, who carried Ohio in his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns and was expected to win the state again in 2024, used the event to press Ohio voters to support Republican candidates in the November midterms.
At the packed rally, Trump spoke to a crowd of supporters outside a venue in Dayton. He urged voters to treat his campaign as if he were on the ballot, telling the crowd, “Just pretend that I’m running. When I run, we win.” He added, “If you don’t mind, please pretend that I’m on the ballot… and you need to turn out for a midterm victory.”
The president’s message was framed around Ohio’s recent economic gains. He cited a $400 million investment by automaker Stellantis in a new plant in Toledo and an $850 million commitment from Electra Aerospace near Springfield. Trump also referenced Bayer’s planned $2.2 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing campus near Columbus, which the company says will create about 600 permanent jobs and 1,500 construction jobs.
“Your state is booming. Every state is booming,” Trump said, linking the investments to his trade and tariff policies. He claimed the tariffs had finally leveled the playing field after years of other countries using them against U.S. products.
In a push to bolster local Republican support, the president singled out Senator Jon Husted and gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, both Ohio Republicans. Trump pledged to sign Husted’s Ratepayer Protection Act—legislation designed to shield Ohio consumers from additional electricity costs that might be associated with data centers—if Congress could bring the bill to the White House for approval. “I will sign this Ratepayer Protection Act into law immediately,” Trump declared.
Trump also floated a $5,000 “dividend” proposal for adults if the Republican Party retains both chambers of Congress, adding that he had already announced the payment plan. The president contrasted his administration’s record with that of former President Joe Biden, praising stock‑market gains, manufacturing growth, and employment levels.
The rally also touched on immigration and border policy. Trump recited a poem titled “The Snake,” which he has described as an allegory of the U.S. immigration system. After the poem, he said, “I dedicate this to Springfield, Ohio. They went through hell,” referencing the city’s recent controversy over an influx of Haitian nationals. He then linked the poem’s themes to his broader immigration crackdown.
Outside the immigration topic, Trump mentioned the United States’ military involvement in Venezuela, claiming that the U.S. had “paid for the cost of the war many, many times over” and was now profiting from Venezuelan oil resources.
Toward the end of the speech, the president urged Ohioans to keep the state on the political map. “If we win the midterms, Ohio will be very, very strongly considered for this,” Trump said, alluding to the possibility of the state hosting a new U.S. National Space Academy, citing Ohio’s aviation heritage and the birthplace of the Wright brothers.
The rally was part of a broader effort by Trump and his campaign to energize Republican voters for the midterm elections, 31 days away from the polls. While the president is not a candidate for the 2024 election, his presence in Ohio and his direct appeals to Republican candidates underscore the high stakes Republicans see in maintaining congressional control.