President Donald Trump used a Friday night rally in Florida to stump for Republican candidates Byron Donalds and Ashley Moody, announce additional hurricane relief funding for the state, and deliver pointed attacks against Democrats, actor Robert De Niro, and audience hecklers.
The event marked part of a month-long campaign push as polls remain tight across the country ahead of the midterm elections, with control of both the House and Senate hanging in the balance.
“We have to win in four days, and it means everybody in our state needs to go out and vote,” Donalds told the cheering crowd in Florida. “There will be no sharia law here in Florida. We gotta get out and vote. We gotta get out and win. We gotta keep Florida free.”
During his remarks, Trump told supporters that he recently approved an additional $184 million in FEMA disaster funding for the Florida Panhandle following requests from Donalds and Moody. The disaster declaration covers 15 counties in northwest Florida that sustained damage during Hurricane Isaias, granting residents access to federal assistance including temporary housing and home repairs.
In an unexpected tangent, Trump claimed that entertainment industry figures who have spent years criticizing him are now privately seeking his help as film and television production increasingly moves overseas to countries like Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom through government tax incentives. Trump suggested he might support federal tax credits to keep domestic production in the United States.
Trump also singled out actor Robert De Niro, calling him a “moron” and describing him as “gross.” The two have publicly exchanged insults for nearly a decade, and representatives for De Niro were reached for comment.
The president spent substantial portions of the evening targeting various Democratic politicians. He criticized Texas state Representative James Talarico, labeling him “a freak” and mocking his dietary habits—a moniker Talarico has leaned into after his opponent used it. Trump also attacked former Republican-turned-Democrat David Jolly as a “freaking loser” over his stances on immigration and firearms, and dismissed Florida state Representative Angie Nixon as having a “very low IQ.”
Renewing previous rhetoric, Trump took aim at Representative Ilhan Omar, arguing she should resign from Congress, and targeted Michigan Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed, whom he accused of being a “jihadist” and warned minority voters against supporting. El-Sayed previously addressed similar attacks on social media, accusing the president of weaponizing his name and faith to distract voters from economic hardships. El-Sayed has actively campaigned across diverse communities, including visits to Black congregations and town halls addressing racial tensions.
Throughout the evening, protesters interrupted the speech multiple times. Trump paused his remarks to dismiss the demonstrators directly, calling one a “loser” and another “that dope,” drawing cheers from his supporters. He also complained that news organizations routinely downplay his crowd sizes while exaggerating attendance at events held by political rivals such as Senator Bernie Sanders.
The rally took place hours after local authorities in Florida arrested a 21-year-old woman for allegedly threatening on social media to shoot the president during the event. According to Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, Allison Albro posted a selfie on Instagram featuring a caption stating she intended to shoot Trump with a Glock at the rally. Albro was subsequently booked into jail on charges of written threats to kill and unlawful use of a communications device.
