CORPUS CHRISTI—With the primary election just days away, President Donald Trump traveled to the Port of Corpus Christi on Friday to deliver an energy-focused speech while drawing together the epicenter of Texas Republican politics.
The event, staged against the port and the Gulf of America with banners reading “American Energy Dominance,” brought together a wide slate of Republican officeholders, candidates, and party leaders.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, House Speaker Dustin Burrows, and Gov. Greg Abbott all spoke to an enthusiastic crowd before Trump took the stage.
“In Texas, we share common values. We put God over government, we fight for freedom, and we know inherently there’s something unique about being a Texan,” Abbott said. “We are going to keep Texas Texas and keep Texas the best state of the United States of America.”
Trump’s speech centered on energy production, exports, and his administration’s policies, with the president praising the Port of Corpus Christi as “one of the largest energy exports anywhere in the world” and positioning Texas as central to what he described as a national energy boom.
“We’re unleashing America’s potential, strengthening our security, increasing our prosperity, and cementing America’s status as the number one energy superpower anywhere on Earth,” Trump said.
He touted U.S. oil production increasing by 600,000 barrels per day since he returned to office as well as record natural gas production and rising liquefied natural gas exports.
Trump also highlighted his first-day declaration of a “national energy emergency” and repeated his call for producers to “drill, baby, drill.”
While billed as an energy speech, Trump wove through several other topics, including inflation, prescription drug costs, immigration, and his recent State of the Union address.
He touted what he described as sweeping reductions in prescription drug prices through his “most favored nation” policy, claiming the move would force U.S. prices to match those paid in other countries.
Trump also touched on artificial intelligence and its impact on energy demand, saying his administration is pushing for new AI data centers to construct their own power generation facilities to avoid placing additional strain on the electrical grid.
Trump also touched on election integrity, voicing support for the SAVE America Act, which would impose a national voter ID requirement.
“We don’t want people that aren’t citizens of our country voting,” Trump said. “We don’t want people who don’t love our country voting.”
“The reason they don’t want voter ID is because they want to cheat,” Trump added, referring to Democrats in congress.
Despite mounting speculation, Trump did not announce an endorsement in Texas’ contentious U.S. Senate primary.
Among those in attendance were U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt, who are all vying for the seat.
Before the speech, he told reporters he had “pretty much” made up his mind as to who he would support for Senate but said he would not reveal it today.
Trump has endorsed numerous candidates in Texas—including much of the Legislature following last year’s passage of school choice legislation—and those touting his backing hope it will help push them across the finish line on Tuesday.
Ending his remarks before his signature YMCA dance, he thanked Texans for supporting him through three elections.
“And I’ve done a lot for you too.”
