Trump hypes Mike Collins’ Senate campaign at Georgia rally

MARIETTA, Ga. — President Donald Trump came down to Georgia Wednesday to help boost the campaign of Republican Rep. Mike Collins, a Senate candidate whom Trump said was one of the most “highly respected” members of Congress. The president took several shots at Collins’ opponent, Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, who he said looks like “Pee-wee Herman.” “You have to vote for Mike because he is running against Pee-wee Herman,” Trump said to a standing-room only gymnasium crowd at the city’s Wheeler High School. “He will bring a lot of action back to your state … vote for Mike.” Republicans have an uphill climb in the nationally watched race, in part because Ossoff has already raised a massive $77 million this election cycle. Meanwhile, Republicans in the state endured a messy and expensive Senate GOP primary, which eventually concluded with Collins as the party’s nominee, but with little comparatively little money in his campaign account after raising $6.5 million to date. Collins, a current member of Congress, was not in attendance at the event due to key votes in Washington. Trump opted against endorsing early in the Senate GOP primary, leaving a field that included a handful of well-funded candidates to attack each other as they jockeyed for Trump’s approval. Trump eventually endorsed Collins just days before the state’s June primary runoff, a last-minute nod as Collins already appeared poised to win his party’s nomination. After the brutal fight, Collins emerged with roughly $2 million cash on hand compared to Ossoff’s $42 million as of June 30. Because of Ossoff’s incumbent advantage and huge financial lead, the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter currently has the seat rated “leans Democratic,” but it is very much seen as in play. Democrats must defend Georgia as they try to play offense in other states and net four seats, which would flip the Senate majority. Democrats are targeting states including Maine, Texas, Iowa, Alaska, and Ohio, while also defending Democratic-held open seats in Michigan and New Hampshire. Georgia is also hosting to a nationally watched governor’s race this year, with Trump-endorsed Republican businessman Rick Jackson facing Democratic former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. The overall focus of Trump’s Wednesday event was education, specifically about the new “Trump Accounts,” which offer tax-advantaged investing for Americans under 18. The federal government will put $1,000 into accounts for babies born between 2025 to 2028. The speakers leading up to Trump, including both state and Trump administration officials, all praised Trump Accounts in their remarks. “For too long, many have felt the American dream is slipping into the past — not any more,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we are opening every possible pathway to pursue that dream again.” Trump said the “money is pouring in” to Trump accounts, and then called onto the stage Jackson, who announced that if he becomes governor, he will push Georgia lawmakers to match the federal government’s initial $1,000 investment contribution for Georgia families taking part. Jackson then said if lawmakers do not pass the proposal, he will pay for them himself. Speakers also touched on the Iran war, which Trump initially said would be a short incursion when the conflict began in February. Now, almost six months in, 18 service members have been killed, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a congressional hearing Tuesday put the cost of the war at $37.5 billion. The Defense Department is asking Congress for $67 billion in supplemental funding for the war effort. The war has been unpopular, but Trump has maintained support with some of the his most fervent MAGA supporters. “He [Trump] is going to make sure Iran never has a nuclear weapon,” said U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, generating applause and cheers in the gymnasium. The military conflict in Iran is coming with large domestic ripple effects, including higher fuel costs. Those are complicating the midterm election for Republicans, as the party tries to emphasize efforts Trump and Republicans have taken to lower costs, an issue that most public polling finds is top of mind for most voters. The price of crude oil recently increased to more than $95 per barrel, the highest price in almost six weeks. The price of fuel stabilized after news of a ceasefire with Iran in April, but it has ticked up since bombing has resumed. Much of the Republican’s midterm economic message will center on passage of Trump’s “big beautiful bill,” his biggest legislative win during his second term in office. Republicans have focused on portions of the bill including the Trump Accounts, ending things like taxes on tips of hospitality workers, and an expansion of the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit. Democratic opponents have pointed to the fact that wealthy Americans will benefit most from the passage of the bill. “They doubled the child tax credit,” said Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “And ended taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security. All of that might seem like common sense, and it is, but it is also a fact every single congressional Democrat voted ‘no’ on letting you take home more of what you earn.” Loeffler, a former senator from Georgia, specifically noted that both of Georgia’s Democratic senators, Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, voted against the bill. Warnock defeated Loeffler in a special election six years ago. Trump also touted another one of his top issues: election integrity. He has struggled to convince Senate Republicans to pass his SAVE America Act, and senators have repeatedly warned that the chamber does not have the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster and move the bill toward passage. The proposal, at times Trump’s near-singular legislative focus in recent months, would require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration in federal elections, severely limit voting by mail, and require states to purge voter rolls of non-citizens. Trump used a primetime speech earlier this week to try and push Senate Republicans to pass the proposal, but it did little to move needle. He has, however, maintained his pressure campaign. “The Senate, what they are doing is just not right,” Trump said. “We are not going to take this any longer.”