President Trump Discusses Economy and Endorses Candidates at Georgia Rally
ATLANTA — President Donald Trump visited Cobb County’s Wheeler High School on Wednesday to address the upcoming midterm elections, highlight economic policies, and introduce new tax-advantaged retirement accounts for children, termed “Trump accounts.”
While speaking to attendees, Trump mentioned the ongoing “skirmish” in Iran, stating that the Iranian government is not ready for peace negotiations. Earlier in the day, Trump paid tribute at Dover Air Force Base to the remains of four service members killed in the conflict, among them Army 1st Lt. Tyler James Feeha from Marietta.
Emphasizing his stance on international issues, Trump reiterated that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons. He further claimed that Democratic victories in the midterms could pose a greater threat to the nation than historical conflicts, alleging that Democrats aim to lead the country toward communism.
Addressing a crowd of 3,000 at the high school, Trump stated, “The blue states are all going bad. They’re all going bad because communism is a loser.” The audience responded enthusiastically to his remarks.
Trump’s visit also served to boost Republican candidates ahead of the November elections. He has endorsed U.S. Rep. Mike Collins for the U.S. Senate, aiming to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff. Although Collins was absent, citing essential votes in Washington, Trump endorsed several state candidates including state Rep. Tim Fleming for secretary of state, and state senators Brian Strickland and Greg Dolezal for attorney general and lieutenant governor respectively.
In a notable shift, Trump endorsed Rick Jackson, a political newcomer who defeated current lieutenant governor Burt Jones in the primary. Jackson joined Trump on stage to discuss the “Trump accounts,” which provide federal contributions to children born during Trump’s term. Jackson pledged to push for state matching contributions if elected against Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms.
Before Trump’s remarks, candidates and officials praised the new savings accounts, established under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. U.S. Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described the accounts as significant investments in the nation’s future.
Trump stated the accounts would grow substantially with the stock market, while Bessent estimated they could be worth half a million dollars by retirement. However, concerns remain about immediate economic issues, such as high costs for essentials. Liz Pancotti of the Groundwork Collaborative criticized the accounts for not addressing current household financial pressures.
Despite economic challenges, many Trump supporters gathered at the rally, wearing red MAGA hats and enduring long waits in the heat. Meanwhile, an anti-Trump protest formed across the street.
During the event, candidate Brian Strickland defended the accounts amidst protester noise, describing them as a “real investment” in American families. U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach emphasized the importance of Trump’s policies for Republican candidates, stating, “President Trump may not be on the ballot, but his policies are.”
