Trump calls on Georgia voters to 'fight, fight, fight' to reelect him at Atlanta rally
Less than 40 days have passed since former President Donald Trump’s last appearance in Atlanta, where he defeated President Joe Biden in the first presidential debate of the election season.
But at his Saturday rally at the Georgia State Convocation Center, held just days after Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign event in the same venue, the political landscape of June 2024 felt light years away. Trump has since survived an assassination attempt, been officially selected as the nominee at the Republican National Convention, chosen his vice presidential running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, and witnessed his longtime opponent drop out of the race. His message to voters? Get out and vote.
As recently as mid-July, Trump had a four-point lead over Biden, according to polling from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. But with Harris taking over the nomination, Trump’s chances of winning the state may be waning.
Prominent Georgia Republicans, including Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Mike Collins, and former Georgia Sen. David Perdue, took the stage to defend Trump’s record and urge Georgia voters to take action.
Days after Trump’s appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists’ annual national convention where he cast doubt on Harris’ racial identity, Conserve the Culture founder Michaelah Montgomery echoed his rhetoric during her opening speech.
“She’s only Black when it’s time to get elected,” Montgomery said.
More: At Trump rally in Atlanta, Black attendees say Kamala Harris playing 'race card' to get votes
Georgia Republicans warn against complacency
For years, Republicans had been on the front line of policies that made it harder to vote, fighting to restrict early voting and absentee ballots, pass more strict voter ID laws, and enable mass voter challenges throughout the state.
But the opening speakers at Trump’s rally had a different message for voters, urging them to check their registration, take advantage of early and absentee voting, and enlisting them to help get the vote out in their communities.
“Our call to action when we leave this rally today should be very clear,” said Brian Jack, the Republican candidate for Georgia’s 3rd Congressional district. “Donald Trump took a bullet for us. The least we can do is get out and go vote for him.”
While the mood of Harris’s campaign event only days before was jubilant, the atmosphere at Trump’s rally was more aggressive, with speakers railing against Biden’s policies, the political establishment and the media.
“You know, we've had an easy life,” said Greene, one of Trump’s most vocal supporters. “We have for decades now. It's been easy to check out, go to work, enjoy your life, do normal, regular people things, but let me inform you of something tough: We don't have that convenience anymore.”
Collins, a congressman representing Georgia’s 10th Congressional district, railed against establishment politicians in Washington, D.C.
“Trump's not running against Kamala,” Collins said. “Trump’s running against the regime.”
JD Vance makes first Georgia campaign appearance
Vance made his first appearance in Georgia since joining the Republican ticket. He took the opportunity to slam Harris’ record to an uproarious crowd.
Immigration has remained a hot-button issue among Republicans, with Vance repeatedly referring to Harris as a “border Czar” during his speech.
“Kamala Harris turned Border Patrol into a travel agency for the worst criminals and terrorists all over the world,” Vance said. “Now we have a different message. President Trump and I say, ‘If you're in this country illegally, start packing your bags.’”
Vance falsely claimed that Harris is pushing to ban red meat and gasoline cars, framing her platform as an example of liberal elitism.
“She thinks that she’s better than us. She thinks that she’s better than you,” he said.
More: Atlanta voters embrace Kamala Harris candidacy with energy, enthusiasm at campaign rally
Trump takes the stage, stokes election denial claims
The former president took the stage as banners overhead displayed the words “Georgia is Trump country” in bold blue lettering. In a speech that lasted more than 90 minutes, he slammed Harris’ intelligence, platform and political record, but notably did not repeat the claims he made about her racial identity during his appearance at the NABJ convention in Chicago.
He called Harris a “really low-IQ individual” and blamed her for the death of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was killed in February on the University of Georgia campus in Athens. Her accused killer, Jose Antonio Ibarra, is an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela.
“Kamala Harris let in the savage monster who murdered Laken Riley,” Trump said. "Under Harris's policies, instead of being deported immediately and fast, he was set free into America. Laken’s blood is on Kamala Harris's hands.”
“Kamala Harris should not be asking for your vote, she should be begging Laken Riley's family for forgiveness,” he added.
More: Judge sets trial date for man charged in Laken Riley's slaying on UGA campus
Trump also combatted rhetoric from Democrats that his re-election would serve to weaken democracy nationwide.
“They said, ‘He’s a threat to democracy,’ No, I’m the one who’s saving democracy,” Trump said.
He repeatedly slammed Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, who he called “a very disloyal person,” along with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who refused to certify the 2020 election results in Trump’s favor.
“They don’t want the vote to be honest. In my opinion, they want us to lose,” Trump said. “And we can’t let that happen, because if we lose Georgia, we lose the whole thing, and our country goes to hell.”
Maya Homan is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on Georgia politics. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @MayaHoman.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Trump emphasizes Georgia's pivotal role at Atlanta campaign rally
