SAN ANTONIO—President Donald Trump rallied thousands of supporters Wednesday night, delivering a nearly two-hour speech that included repeated attacks on Democrat U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico.
The rally at the Freeman Coliseum came less than a month before the November 3 election, with Trump urging Republicans to turn out for Attorney General Ken Paxton’s U.S. Senate campaign and several congressional races.
Throughout his remarks, Trump repeatedly referred to Talarico as “Talafreako,” criticizing his record on immigration, energy policy, and child gender mutilation.
“A vote for Talafreako is a vote to turn Texas into a dirty, failing, third-world country,” Trump told the crowd, contrasting that with his support for Paxton.
Trump also questioned Talarico’s recent absence from public campaign appearances.
“Where is he? Where the hell is he?” Trump asked.
Paxton raised the same issue during his remarks earlier in the evening, telling attendees that Talarico had gone 11 days without making a public appearance.
Paxton then led the crowd in a chant asking, “Where is James Talarico?”
Trump also mocked Talarico’s vegan diet, joking about the Democrat’s recent public appearances eating barbecue and hypothesizing that had made him sick and unable to campaign.
The president criticized Talarico’s legislative record, accusing him of opposing border security measures, restrictions on illegal immigration, and protections for the state’s oil and gas industry.
“Talarico voted three times against walls. He doesn’t want a wall,” Trump said.
Trump also accused Talarico of changing his positions now that he is running statewide.
Paxton echoed that argument, telling attendees that Talarico’s views had shifted since the general election campaign began.
“Do you all believe his voting record or what he’s telling us now?” Paxton asked.
The attacks came as Trump sought to energize Republican voters ahead of an election in which his own name will not appear on the ballot.
“Pretend that I’m on the ballot,” Trump urged supporters. “Because they’re going to destroy everything that we’ve done.”
He specifically encouraged attendees to support Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Carlos De La Cruz, the Republican candidate running against Democrat Johnny Garcia in the newly redrawn 35th Congressional District.
Trump praised Paxton as one of the country’s leading attorneys general and predicted he would become an influential member of the U.S. Senate.
Other Republican congressional candidates speaking at the event included Brandon Herrera and Chris Gober, along with attorney general candidate Mayes Middleton and Patrick.
Baseball legend Roger Clemens introduced Trump, who announced during the event that he would award Clemens the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Beyond the upcoming election, Trump highlighted his administration’s record on border security, including the fact that no illegal aliens had been released into the country at the border for 17 consecutive months.
Trump additionally defended the ongoing war in Iran and discussed his administration’s military actions.
Another moment that drew enthusiastic applause came when Trump addressed the planned execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan, the former Army major responsible for the 2009 Fort Hood terrorist attack that killed 13 people.
The president also revisited his proposal from last month’s Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas to provide $5,000 payments, drawing another warm reception from attendees.
The rally was not without disruptions.
A crowd of protesters gathered outside the venue, while approximately a dozen protesters attempted to interrupt the program at various points inside.
Trump dismissed the demonstrations, accusing protesters of being paid and criticizing the signs they carried.
He also took aim at political polling and media coverage of the upcoming election.
“The fake news media is trying to demoralize Republican voters with fake polls,” Trump said, adding that his political movement was “maybe stronger than ever.”
Wednesday’s appearance marked Trump’s second visit to Texas in as many weeks, following a stop in Denton and a rally in nearby Durant, Oklahoma last week. Vice President JD Vance also visited South Texas last week.
At the Republican Midterm Convention in Dallas last month, Trump indicated he would return to Texas multiple times before Election Day.
With less than four weeks remaining, Wednesday’s rally brought that campaign effort to San Antonio.
