Trump says at Mesa rally, 'Democrats produce mobs, Republicans produce jobs'

The Republic | azcentral.com

Show Caption Hide Caption President Trump, Rep. Martha McSally arrive at MAGA rally in Mesa President Donald Trump and Rep. Martha McSally arrive at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport for a rally on Oct. 19, 2018.

President Donald Trump spoke Friday night at a rally in support of Republican candidates at a hangar at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

Earlier in the day, Trump visited Luke Air Force Base.

For information about the runup to the Mesa rally and other activities earlier in the day, click here.

9 p.m. Police say no major safety issues

Traffic clogged streets on Friday night near the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, and cars have been slow to clear out after President Donald Trump's rally in Mesa.

Many people wait near the hangar where food trucks have been selling food and drinks since about noon.

The crowd seemed pleased with the event as they walked back to their cars, chanting “USA” and honking their car horns.

Mesa police said 6,300 were in attendance inside the hangar. People continued to show up to the rally, even as Mesa police warned motorists that parking was full and there was no alternative parking.

Police said there were no major public safety issues Friday in connection with the president's visit.

Detective Steve Berry, a Mesa police spokesman, said Mesa Fire and Medical Department treated "a few people with minor heat issues. Nothing serious."

— Uriel Garcia, Perry Vandell, Paulina Pineda and Kelsey Mo.

8:02 p.m. President back in Scottsdale for night

Trump’s helicopter landed at Scottsdale Airport, and his motorcade headed toward the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess for another overnight stay. The motorcade took a route that kept it away from Scottsdale Road and Princess Drive where onlookers had gathered the night before.

Trump later tweeted: "Beautiful evening in Mesa, Arizona with GREAT PATRIOTS - thank you!" and encouraged followers to vote GOP.

The president is expected to leave Arizona early Saturday morning. He has an 11 a.m. event in Elko, Nevada.

7:40 p.m. Trump: Vote for more jobs, more wealth

Trump winds up his rally in Mesa by saying a vote for a Republican Congress in November is a vote for "more jobs, more wealth and more products made right here in the USA."

Loyal citizens helped build this country, he said, and together are taking back this country. The power is being returned to the American people, he said.

He added that Americans will never surrender and will always fight on to victory because their hearts "bleed red, white and blue."

As he spoke, people in the crowd waved signs that said "Buy American, hire American."

"We are one people, one family and one glorious nation under God," the president said, winding up his remarks. "And together with the proud people of Arizona, we will make America wealthy again. We will make America strong again. We will make America safe again. And we will make America great again. Thank you, Arizona, thank you," he said.

People cheered and held their phones high in the air to capture video of the president as he entered Marine One. The helicopter departed at about 7:49 p.m.

— Anne Ryman and Daniel Gonzalez

7:30 p.m. Trump: Dems 'want to throw your borders wide open'

Trump's visit to Arizona was specifically to help Republican U.S. Senate candidate Martha McSally. He called her tough, smart and brave and " she can fly an airplane better than anybody."

Voting for McSally “will be the second greatest vote you will ever cast. The first greatest vote was for me," he told the crowd.

He spent a large portion of his speech criticizing Democrats. He called Democrats "lousy politicians," but added that they stick together. He criticized the Democratic party for being weak on immigration.

“They will fight to the death because they don’t want us to have the (border) wall. But we’ve started the wall anyway, and we’re going to get it done," he vowed.

He pledged that Republicans would protect Medicare and Social Security while Democrats "will destroy both." The comment comes a few days after Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., referred to the two programs as "entitlement programs."

— Anne Ryman

7 p.m. Outside overflow audio hard to hear

Shortly before 7 p.m., hundreds of Trump supporters leave the area outside the rally in a wave of red, white and blue. No one else was being allowed inside the airplane hangar where Trump is speaking.

Max Schober, 23, said the crowd in the outside overflow area is leaving the event because it cannot hear.

Schober, standing in the street as people march toward their cars, said he wasn’t upset by the poor audio. He was just pleased to see thousands of supporters come out to join the Trump movement.

He expects Trump to generate support for Republican candidates in the midterm elections.

“He gets the momentum behind the people. You’ve got to get the spirit behind them. You can’t just tell somebody what to do, you have to get them excited. And Trump knows how to do that.”

— Dianna M. Nañez

6:56 p.m. Trump: 'Democrats produce mobs, Republicans produce jobs'

President Trump took the stage at about 6:48 p.m. to a cheering crowd at a hangar at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport.

"It is great to be in the great state of Arizona," he said, calling its residents "hard-working, beautiful American patriots."

He encouraged people to vote for Republicans in the Nov. 6 election, touting the country's low unemployment rate and good economy.

"Democrats produce mobs, Republicans produce jobs," he said, eliciting a roaring applause from the crowd and chants of "USA, USA."

"So, this November, when you’re voting, vote for the jobs, not the mobs," he said.

— Anne Ryman

6:44 p.m. Helicopters arriving in Mesa

Crowds who are gathered at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport to hear President Trump speak can see helicopters arriving from the north and they are cheering. Trump enters the hanger to the strains of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA."

Waiting for @realDonaldTrump to arrive at tonight’s rally. The last time I was here at Mesa Gateway Airport this happened. I promise tonight’s reception will be different for @POTUS #TrumpInAZ pic.twitter.com/X8NssRKKl5 — Jan Brewer (@GovBrewer) October 19, 2018

5:44 p.m. U.S. has 'worst immigration laws' Trump said

President Trump took a few minutes to answer questions from the media after meeting with military leaders at Luke Air Force Base. He called Saudi Arabia's announcement today that 18 people were being held in connection with the death of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, "a big first step."

"It’s only a first step, but it’s a big first step," he said.

Khashoggi has been missing for more than two weeks and feared dead. Today, Saudi Arabia announced he died after an argument and fist fight with men inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul.

Trump was asked at Luke Air Force Base whether a third party should get involved with the investigation into Khashoggi's death.

"We have third parties involved; we’re involved. Turkey is involved, and I wouldn’t say they are exactly friends (with Saudi Arabia)," he said.

Trump also was asked by reporters about the migrant caravans that are making their way to the United States from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Trump criticized the United States for having "the worst immigration laws in the history of the world," adding that some of the people in the caravans "are hardened criminals, not good people."

When asked by a reporter what evidence he had that there were criminals in the caravans, Trump responded, "Oh please. Don’t be a baby. Take a look."

People wait outside venue for President Donald Trump's Mesa rally A timelapse shows the line to enter the Mesa venue where President Donald Trump's will speak on Oct. 19, 2018.

5:40 p.m. Ducey thanks Trump

An enthusiastic Gov. Doug Ducey, who is up for re-election, took the stage to offer his strongest endorsement of the president yet, saying it was his “honor” to welcome Trump to Arizona.

He credited the president with “how far we've come as a state and a country.”

“Two years ago, families and small businesses were getting crushed,” Ducey said. “Today, under President Trump, our economy is booming, thanks to historic tax reform.”

Ducey also offered a full-throated endorsement of Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, saying that former President Barack Obama’s tenure had been marked by “activist judges.”

He also supported U.S. Senate candidate Martha McSally, secretary of state candidate Steve Gaynor, state treasurer candidate Kimberly Yee and state superintendent of schools candidate Frank Riggs.

Ducey told the crowd Republicans have a “great ticket” this year, but “we can’t do this without you.”

“We can't take anything for granted in this election cycle,” he said, telling attendees they must “outwork” and “outvote” the left.

— Maria Polletta

How will President Trump visit to Arizona influence voters' decisions? Arizona Republic reporters discuss how President Trump could influence voters' choices, in a conversation before Trump's Mesa rally on Oct. 19, 2018.

5:28: Gaynor blasts left on Kavanaugh

One of the first speakers Friday night at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport was Steve Gaynor, the Republican candidate for Arizona secretary of state.

He fired up the crowd by invoking the confirmation hearings for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexually assaulting a woman decades earlier.

Gaynor said the “left tried to destroy” Kavanaugh. He also said America faces a threat from socialists who are a threat “within our borders.”

Gaynor, a wealthy businessman, is running for secretary of state against Democrat Katie Hobbs, the minority leader in the Arizona Senate. Polls suggest Gaynor has the lead.

He also didn’t miss an opportunity to bash Hobbs on a national stage, attacking her over a comment she made earlier this year about how winning the seat would help Democrats hold onto elected offices.

Gaynor said her comments show she would use the secretary’s office "to elect more Democrats to the state Legislature” — an accusation he has hammered in a new television attack ad recently.

“This is a corrupt, dishonorable motive for holding the office,” Gaynor told the crowd.

Hobbs has said her comment was about voter suppression and how Arizona has laws and practices that make it harder for certain types of people, such as minorities, to vote.

"That is not what I said," she said Oct. 1 during an interview with The Arizona Republic's editorial board. "What I'm talking about is leveling the playing field. The playing field is not fair right now because there are things in place that keep people from voting.”

— Dustin Gardiner

5:20 p.m. Meets with military leaders

President Trump, flanked by Republican U.S. Senate candidate Martha McSally, met around a large conference table at Luke Air Force Base with Arizona military leaders, defense contractors and elected officials.

Trump called Luke Air Force Base "top of the line" and reiterated the importance of having the United States invest in a strong military. He touted accomplishments such as securing more funding for U.S. armed forces and for giving them a pay increase, "the first in 10 years."

He pointed out there is great demand for American military products and that the U.S. especially wants its allies to purchase American-made military products.

As for those countries that are unfriendly to the U.S., however: "We have a lot of countries who are dying to order our stuff, but we don’t like them very much so we don’t let them," he said.

About Arizona, Trump said, "it’s a great state. We love Arizona.”

— Anne Ryman

4:50 p.m. Trump heads to Luke AFB

President Trump has arrived at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale.

After a brief tour, he is scheduled to host a discussion with Republican U.S. Senate candidate Martha McSally, elected officials, defense contractors and others. The event should provide a visual reminder of McSally's years of service as a combat fighter pilot.

Roger Prior, 67, of Sun City, stood outside the base's South Gate, holding a sign that said, “Vote Sinema, ground McSally.”

He is an Army veteran who served in South Korea.

“I remember the '60s, I didn’t do enough of this then ... but I’ll be darned I’m doing it now,” he said, about protesting.

Nearby, in the same dirt lot, Dora Polakowski, of Litchfield Park, held a white sign with red letters saying, “Keep America great, vote Republican.”

“I believe (Trump) is making things right one day at a time,” said Polakowski, who was wearing a Trump hat.

— Ellie Nakamoto-White, Jen Fifield and Joshua Bowling.

4:15 p.m. Thousands await Trump

Several thousand people have already filled the inside of International Air Response hanger at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa. More keep streaming in.

Many of them are wearing red "Make America Great Again" hats. Others are dressed in red, white and blue shirts. No one is carrying flags, per the Mesa police's instructions.

The Red Wave is SUUUUPER real!#TrumpInAZ pic.twitter.com/Pym0y9UcBP — Brenden M Dilley (@TheRealHublife) October 19, 2018

Michael Jackson’s "Billy Jean" is blaring over the loudspeakers. A man in sunglasses and a Trump Las Vegas T-shirt was busting out some dance moves, momentarily turning the hangar floor into his personal disco.

A stage is set up at one end of the hangar, and people are filing the risers behind it. The floor space in front of the stage is already filled with people. Many are sitting on the cement floor, resting after waiting outside for hours.

A huge American flag hangs behind the lectern where Trump will speak in about two hours, flanked by two signs. One reads, "Promises Made." The other reads, "Promises Kept."

A short while ago, paramedics attended to a man who was overcome by the heat at one end of the hangar, where the late afternoon sun is streaming through the open door.

— Daniel Gonzalez

4 p.m. Arpaio meets with Trump

Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who lost a bid for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, met with Trump privately Friday afternoon and plans to be at the Mesa rally, said Chris Hegstrom, Arpaio’s spokesman.

Earlier Friday, Arpaio said he was unsure what his schedule would be and whether he would attend.

Arpaio was one of Trump’s earliest supporters for president, and traveled around the country to warm up crowds for Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. Arpaio spoke in favor of Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Ohio.

— Yvonne Wingett Sanchez

3:30 p.m.: Pump up the music

The Backstreet Boys' “I Want It That Way” is blaring overhead as the crowds enter the hangar at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in anticipation of hearing Trump speak later tonight.

Security began letting people into the venue about an hour ago. Some attendees were arguing with security guards who ordered them to throw away their water. Trump supporters sang the national anthem as they passed by one of a handful of protesters outside the hangar where Trump is scheduled to speak later this evening.

— Paula Pineda

Trump supporters enter venue for president's Mesa rally Supporters of President Donald Trump are let into the venue where Trump will speak on Oct. 19, 2018.

Mesa police report the parking lot is at capacity and they will not open up additional parking.

Protests outside are expected to pick up closer to the time Trump takes the stage. It has so far been quiet.

Billionaire activist Tom Steyer's group, NextGen America, is planning a large protest near the airport starting at 5:30 p.m.

Mesa police have set up two designated "free speech" zones for demonstrators inside secured areas at the venue.

Police also announced a list of prohibited items, including weapons and dangerous items such as baseball bats and flagpoles.

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