By james art Former President Donald Trump predicted Nevada would swing for him, marking the first time the Silver State has elected a Republican president since 2004.
“With your help, we’re going to win Nevada in 12 days,” he told a large and enthusiastic crowd at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center.
Trump encouraged supporters to get out and vote during a Thursday night rally organized by Turning Point Action, just 12 days before the Nov. 5 election. His surrogates told those in attendance to find 10 people to vote with them.
The rally organized by Turning Point featured a long line of political figures. Trump said about 29,000 people attended, with more waiting outside. A Turning Point Action spokesman said 12,500 people attended.
In a nearly 90-minute speech, Trump laid out his usual campaign talking points, from his plans for tariffs and a mass deportation program to his usual attacks on his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris.
He recited his usual “The Serpent” poem with its message of betrayal and showed campaign videos of immigrant gang members.
Here are the five biggest highlights from the event.
Trump, surrogates express confidence in turning Nevada red.
Trump told the crowd he was “leading by a lot” in Nevada, saying Republicans were winning states that had previously been out of contention.
Nevada’s early voting period began on Oct. 19, and Republicans are ahead in voter turnout, though Democrats are leading in mail-in voting.
The surrogates also themed their speeches around praising Trump, getting voters to vote Republican and persuading others to do the same.
“On election night, you think it’s loud here today,” asked Trump senior adviser and Nevada Republican Party Chairman Michael McDonald. “Wait until we have the opportunity to call Donald Trump ‘Mr. president once more.
Trump is making his usual campaign promises.
The former president outlined his biggest political promises he made during his campaign.
He promised to get the criminals out and make America safer and stronger. He reiterated his plans to ban taxes on gratuity, overtime and Social Security benefits, asking the crowd for a poll on which one he favored most.
He promised to end inflation and bring back the American dream and promised to “break, break, break” and “break, baby, break.” He also reiterated his plans to introduce the tariff.
To make housing more affordable, he will open up more federal land in Nevada for housing, Trump said, calling out Gov. Joe Lombardo, who has pushed for a rational release of federal land.
Trump also highlighted his “mass deportation” plan, but did not say how the process would work. He said he wants to introduce the death penalty for any undocumented immigrant who kills an American citizen.
He promised to invoke the Alien Enemy Act of 1798, a military authority that allows the president to detain or deport natives and citizens of an enemy nation. The agency is well known for its role in Japanese internment camps, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.
“The United States was an occupied country, but it will no longer be an occupied country,” he said.
He spoke of the “enemy within” and took a swipe at Harris, calling her a radical leftist.
“Nevada, you need to stand up and you need to tell Kamala Harris that you’ve had enough and you can’t take it anymore,” Trump said, to a standing ovation.
Speeches centered around “Faith, Family and Freedom.”
The surrogates have themed their speeches around praising Trump, getting voters to vote Republican and persuading others to do the same. They spoke of “Faith, Family and Freedom.”
Some emphasized God when talking about Trump’s first assassination attempt, in which his ear was hit by a bullet.
Nevada RNC Committeewoman Sigal Chatah, who previously ran for Nevada attorney general, prayed in Hebrew and English.
She added that the election would be “handed over to Trump by the hand of God.”
Both campaigns involved former members of their opponent’s parties.
Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic presidential candidate, spoke at the rally about why she voted for Trump, saying he would bring peace and prosperity.
Before the rally, the Harris campaign held a news conference with Republicans or former Republicans who plan to vote for Harris.
Dr. Sheriff Abdu, a physician who has lived in Las Vegas for more than 30 years, said he has been a Republican 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 has always stood by our values, but Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans do not represent me, my family or our values,” he said.
Supporters cheered Thomas & Mack hours before Trump’s speech
Hours before the event began, Trump supporters began pouring into the arena.
Vendors scattered outside the hall sold pro-Trump gear while volunteers got attendees to sign petitions.
During the event, the crowd loudly booed Harris’ videos, with some shouting “lock her up.”
Shayla Novak attended the event with her parents. She said it was her first time seeing Trump live. She said she voted for three times.
“It will be interesting to see how everyone comes together in support,” Novak said. “I just hope he wins … we have to ‘Make America Great Again,’ that’s the most important thing.”
Adam S. Moreno, wearing a red “Make America Healthy Again” baseball cap, said he was a longtime supporter of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the former independent presidential candidate who dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump.
Moreno moved to Las Vegas about three months ago, with plenty of time to register to vote, which he said he plans to do for Trump in the next few days.
He encouraged people to vote early and highlighted Trump’s “coalition of all these backgrounds and parties.”
Moreno said he “really doesn’t appreciate some of the things the Democratic Party has been advocating lately.”
Asked what he expected from the event, Moreno said, “I just hope it’s safe and I hope people are kind.”
The event marked just one of the former president’s pre-election visits to southern Nevada. He will also speak in Henderson on Halloween at the Lee Family Forum.
Contact Jessica Hill at [email protected]. Follow @jess_hillyeah on X. Contact Ricardo Torres-Cortez at [email protected].
CONNECTED
5 takeaways from Trump’s Latin American roundtable in North Las Vegas
5 takeaways from Donald Trump’s rally in Las Vegas
Trump thanked Kennedy for his support during a speech at a Las Vegas restaurant