President Trump showered praise on several Arizona candidates he’d already endorsed at a campaign event in Phoenix on Friday and gave shoutouts to several candidates for the first time.
The event at Dream City Church was called “Build the Red Wall” and hosted by conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA’s political arm, Turning Point Action.
The “red wall” refers to a handful of key states, including Arizona, and how keeping them in Republican hands is the path to maintaining control of the federal government.
Trump spoke after several Arizona congressmen and candidates who he had already endorsed, including gubernatorial candidate and Congressman Andy Biggs.
“We’re thrilled to be joined today by many incredible Arizona leaders who will help achieve this victory. … Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen,” Trump said.
Petersen is running for attorney general this year. Trump also mentioned superintendent of public instruction candidate Kimberly Yee and secretary of state candidate Rep. Alexander Kolodin (R-Scottsdale).
Trump’s positive mention of Petersen came shortly after GOP Congressman Paul Gosar voiced his support of another GOP attorney general candidate, Rodney Glassman, on the stage.
“It just can’t be the red wall with Andy [Biggs], we gotta bring an AG like Rodney Glassman into play,” Gosar said to audible boos.
“To hear the president of the United States shout out your name to such an incredible crowd of course it’s an honor, it's energizing and it’s a huge, huge boost to the campaign,” Petersen said.
Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes’ campaign immediately responded to the endorsement in fundraising emails.
“Donald Trump just spoke in Arizona, where he gave a ridiculous speech at Turning Point’s “Build the Red Wall” rally. As usual, he was full of nonsense, He also endorsed my opponent, Warren Petersen, the Arizona Senate president,” Mayes’ statement said.
Biggs hopes to challenge Gov. Katie Hobbs in November and promised to deliver a version of Trump’s policies to Arizona.
“As governor our taxes will fall, just like we did in DC. No taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime. Oddly enough, Katie Hobbs vetoed those provisions,” Biggs told the crowd.
The veto Biggs is referring to was a tax cut package produced by state Republicans earlier this year. Hobbs is pushing an alternative tax cut package which includes no tax on tips and overtime.
Trump notably gave a shout out to Congressman Juan Ciscomani, who also addressed the audience. Friday was the first time Ciscomani spoke on stage at a Turning Point event.
Ciscomani told KJZZ that Turning Point was helpful in his campaign last election cycle and they’ve been working together.
“We’ve always been good with each other,” he said.
But Ciscomani’s public inclusion is recent.
In 2023, Turning Point Action COO Tyler Bowyer advocated for another Republican to run against Ciscomani and knock him out of the congressional seat he holds.
Attendees in line for the event said they support Trump’s recent actions in Iran and are unbothered by his criticism of Pope Leo.
Trump criticized the pope on social media earlier this month after the Pope condemned the war in Iran.
Trump called him “weak on crime” and followed up by posting an image of himself as a Christ-like figure on social media, which he’s since deleted.
“I would kind of like both of them to stay in their lanes a little bit, but if the pope is making commentary on social issues pertaining to the United States, I think that Trump you know he’s gonna respond. He responds to everything, so you know whether or not you like what he has to say, but I think that the pope would do good to continue pope-ing and take care of the church,” Arizonan Richard McMartin said.
