Donald Trump brought his signature intensity to an Ohio campaign rally, urging supporters to help Republicans defeat Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections.
On Saturday, the President was campaigning for Republican Senator Jon Husted, who is seeking reelection, and former DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy, who is running for governor.
With Democrats widely expected to compete strongly for control of the House and possibly the Senate, Trump energized the crowd at Butler High School in Vandalia, near Dayton, by predicting a major Republican victory.
“You gotta get out and vote, and if you do, we’re gonna win big and we’re gonna shove it up their a**,” Trump told the cheering audience.
He also attacked Democrats with an insult referring to them as “dumb sons of b****es” and revived his recently coined nickname, “Dumbocrats.”
Trump then turned his attention to CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, a familiar target in his public criticism and frequent clashes with the news network.
“She’s such an unhappy person,” Trump said of Collins. “Young, nice person, but she never smiles. She’s a very unhappy person.”
Ramaswamy and Husted joined Trump at the event, while Super Bowl-winning NFL coach Jon Gruden also delivered a spirited speech to rally the crowd.
Donald Trump displayed his trademark energy and vowed to defeat Democrats during an Ohio rally supporting key Republican candidates before the midterm elections
The President was campaigning for Republican Senator Jon Husted’s reelection bid and former DOGE co-chair Vivek Ramaswamy’s run for governor
After Gruden finished speaking, Trump praised him in front of the enthusiastic audience, calling him “one of my favorite coaches in the whole world.”
Trump and Gruden have previously spent time together, including at least one round of golf in 2025.
“He’s a great coach and he’s a very good golfer too,” Trump said. “Right, Jon? We had a great time. He’s a great winner. He’s a winner.”
The crowd responded warmly to Trump’s remarks, which followed Gruden’s energetic address about his Ohio roots.
“I came back for one reason,” Gruden told the audience. “I’m from Ohio. My mom and dad are from Cleveland. I was born in Sandusky and I went to the University of Dayton, and I’m damn proud of it, man!”
Supporters at Vandalia’s Butler High School answered Gruden with loud cheers and applause.
Trump says he is beginning a 32-day campaign blitz ahead of the November 3 elections. His schedule includes stops this week in the deep-red states of Texas, Oklahoma and Alabama, followed by a visit to Ohio, a key battleground with one of the cycle’s most closely watched Senate races.
Husted was appointed to the Senate seat left vacant when JD Vance became vice president and is now campaigning to secure the position through election.
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Trump again criticized CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, pictured, who has frequently been the subject of his attacks and exchanges with the President
A supporter waves a “Trump Country” flag as President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Vandalia, Ohio
There is likely no path to a Senate majority for Democrats without flipping Ohio, where former three-term Senator Sherrod Brown is trying to return to the Senate after losing to Republican Bernie Moreno two years ago.
Since last year, Democrats have listed Ohio, along with states such as North Carolina and Maine, as key races to win control of the Senate.
And this past week, the head of the Senate GOP´s campaign arm said Ohio is among 10 battleground races that are ‘within striking distance.’
At his rallies, Trump has been trying to convince voters that the economy is better than they feel it is, even though polls show Americans are frustrated with the way he’s handled it.
The high cost of living, including gas prices elevated by Trump’s war on Iran, is a top issue in the Dayton area, too.
And just days before Trump’s rally, nearly 1,400 people were laid off from a truck factory in nearby Springfield.
‘Your state is booming. Every – I hate to say it – every state is booming,’ Trump insisted Saturday. ‘They’re all booming.’
Trump’s rally comes as Republicans worry that Husted’s campaign has failed to adequately catch fire with voters in the Republican-dominated state.
Trump had plenty of backup with Ramaswamy and Husted both speaking, as well as a pep talking from Super Bowl-winning NFL coach Jon Gruden
The 80-year-old Trump’s speech was well received by his followers, if far more subdued than Gruden’s earlier message
Brown and allied groups have hammered Husted for his data-centers role, and the NRSC has pinpointed it as a political vulnerability.
Meanwhile, in the governor’s race, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy faces Democrat Dr. Amy Acton, the state’s former Covid-era health director.
A wealthy biotech entrepreneur and 2024 presidential candidate, Ramaswamy’s star appeal among conservatives led to quick backing by Ohio Republicans and hopes of an easy victory in the Republican-dominated state.
However, despite a massive fundraising lead and more than $12 million spent in campaign advertising, he is now locked in a close fight with Acton with weeks to go until Election Day.
‘I’m so grateful to this state and to this country for giving a kid like me opportunities that would not have been available to my family in any other country on planet earth,’ Ramaswamy said at the rally ahead of Trump’s arrival, as he underscored the American dream for his Indian immigrant family.