
Madeline Carter Las Vegas Review-Journal
Former President Donald Trump told a large crowd in Las Vegas that Nevada will flip for him, which would mark the first time the Silver State elected a Republican for president since 2004.
“With your help, 12 days from now, we are going to win Nevada,” Trump said at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center.
Trump encouraged his supporters to get out and vote during the rally held on Thursday night, just 12 days before the Nov. 5 election, and his surrogates told attendees to find 10 people to vote with them. The rally, hosted by Turning Point, featured a long lineup of political figures.
Here’s five highlights from the event. Trump said about 29,000 people were in attendance. The center only holds 19,500, and a Turning Point Action spokesperson said 12,500 people were in attendance.
Trump, surrogates express confidence in turning Nevada red. “Nevada, you have to stand up and you have to tell Kamala Harris that you’ve had enough and you can’t take it anymore,” Trump said.
Trump told the crowd he is “leading by a lot” in Nevada, saying Republicans are winning states that weren’t previously in play. Nevada’s early voting period started Oct. 19, and Republicans are ahead in early voting turnout, though Democrats are leading with mail ballots. Surrogates also themed their speeches around praising Trump, getting voters out cast a ballot for Republicans and to convince others to do the same.
“Come election night, you think it’s loud here today,” asked Trump senior advisor and Nevada GOP Chairman Michael McDonald. “Wait ‘till we have the opportunity to call Donald Trump ‘Mr. President’ one more time.”
Trump makes his usual campaign pledges.
Trump promised to get the criminals out, make the U.S. safer and stronger. He repeated his plans to bar taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits, asking the crowd for a poll on which one they prefer the most.
He pledged to end inflation and bring back the American Dream, and he promised to “frack, frack, frack,” and “drill, baby drill.” He also repeated his plans to implement tariffs. To make housing more affordable, he will open up more federal land in Nevada for housing, Trump said, praising Gov. Joe Lombardo who has pushed for the streamlined release of federal land.
“I’m asking you to be excited about the future of our country again,” he said, adding that he’ll bring about a “golden age.” “Nevada, you have to stand up and you have to tell Kamala Harris that you’ve had enough and you can’t take it anymore,” Trump said, receiving loud cheers.”
Speeches centered around ‘Faith, family and freedom’
Surrogates spoke of “Faith, family and freedom.” Some emphasized God when speaking about the first Trump assassination attempt in which his ear was struck by a bullet.
Nevada RNC Committeewoman Sigal Chattah, who previously ran for Nevada attorney general, prayed in Hebrew and English. She added the election will be “handed to Trump by the hand of God.”
Both campaigns featured former members of their opponent’s parties.
Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic presidential candidate, spoke at the rally about why she’s voting for Trump, saying he will bring peace and prosperity.
Ahead of the rally, the Harris campaign held a press conference with Republicans, or former Republicans, who plan to vote for Harris. Dr. Sherif Abdou, a physician who has lived in Las Vegas for over 30 years, said he has been a Republican for most of his life but is now a registered independent.
“As an Egyptian immigrant, I grew up in a Christian Orthodox Church and the Republican Party always aligned with our values, but Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans do not represent me, my family, or our values,” he said.