On Saturday, Sept. 3, former President Donald Trump held a rally at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., alongside Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Mastriano and U.S. Senate nominee Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Trump began his speech by reiterating his endorsements of both GOP candidates, stating, “This election is a referendum on the corruption and extremism of Joe Biden and the radical Democrat party.”
Next, he discussed the recent raid on his Mar-a-Lago home, in which the FBI executed a search warrant to gather evidence for its investigation regarding presidential and classified documents that may have been brought to the residence.
“You’re all enemies of the state,” Trump said at his rally. “[Biden] is an enemy of the state, [if] you want to know the truth…It was not just my home that was raided last month. It was the hopes and dreams of every citizen who I’ve been fighting for.”
Trump continued by citing Philadelphia’s rise in crime as a reason why he believes the United States is in decline. He argued that Democratic rule in this city has exacerbated its epidemic of gun violence, which allowed him to pivot into the second part of the rally that focused on the two candidates running in the November midterm elections.
The former president criticized Democratic candidate for Senate John Fetterman calling him a “Spoiled and entitled socialist loser” and “The most dangerous Democrat seeking to join Congress this year.”
Trump continued by emphasizing Fetterman’s reluctance to debate Oz and then by inviting the Republican senate candidate to join the stage and speak. Oz was shortly followed by Mastriano, who briefly shared his plans for his first day in office.
The former President concluded his speech by recounting the Keystone State’s history to evoke hope, morale and excitement from the crowd.
“Pennsylvania is where our founding fathers declared American independence. It’s where the army weathered its brutal winter at Valley Forge. Where General George Washington led his men on a daring mission across the Delaware,” Trump said. “…where our union was saved by immortal heroes at Gettysburg. And this is the state where generations of tough, strong Pennsylvania miners, factory workers and steel workers forged the greatest nation in the history of the world.”
Finally, Trump ended his speech in his typical fashion by echoing the now famous motto, highlighting the possible accomplishments Pennsylvania voters can achieve by voting Mastriano and Oz into office.
“We will make America wealthy again. We will make America strong again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again. And we will make America great again,” he concluded.
Polls conducted by Emerson College and Trafalgar in late August had Fetterman leading Oz 48% to 44%, with 8% accounting for undecided voters. Josh Shapiro led Mastriano 47% to 44%, with 6% being undecided and 3% voting for an alternate candidate. However, the races have grown more competitive as November approaches.
The results of these midterm elections will reveal how much power Trump still holds across the country—especially in swing states.
