Trump Heads To Georgia, A Target Of His Election Falsehoods, As Republicans Look For Midterm Boost

ATLANTA — He is weighing subject action against Iran, starring an fierce migration crackdown, and teasing a national takeover of authorities elections.

But connected Thursday, President Trump’s squad insists he will attraction connected nan system erstwhile he visits battleground Georgia successful a travel designed to thief boost Republicans’ governmental opinionated heading into nan high-stakes midterm elections.

“Georgia is evidently a very important authorities to nan president and to nan Republican Party,” said White House property caput Karoline Leavitt connected nan eve of his visit. Trump’s remarks successful Georgia, she said, will item “his efforts to make life affordable for moving people.”

Trump’s destination successful Georgia suggests he has thing other connected his mind too. He’s heading to a legislature territory antecedently represented by Marjorie Taylor Greene, a erstwhile protagonist who resigned successful January aft feuding pinch Trump. There’s a typical predetermination to switch her connected March 10.

The White House has agelong said Trump would attraction much connected nan economy, and he often complains that he doesn’t get capable in installments for it. But caller months person been dominated by different issues, including deadly clashes during deportation efforts successful Minneapolis.

As a reminder of his divided attention, Trump is scheduled to statesman Thursday pinch 1 of his passion projects. He’s gathering representatives from immoderate of nan much than 2 twelve countries that person joined his Board of Peace, a negotiated inaugural to supplant nan United Nations.

False claims of elector fraud

The Georgia sojourn comes little than a period aft national agents seized voting records and ballots from Fulton County, location to nan state’s largest postulation of Democrats.

Trump has agelong seen Georgia arsenic cardinal to his mendacious declare that nan 2020 predetermination was stolen by Democrats and President Joe Biden, a fabrication that he reiterated Wednesday during a White House reception connected Black History Month.

“We won by millions of votes but they cheated,” Trump said.

Audits, authorities officials, courts and Trump’s ain erstwhile lawyer wide person each rejected nan thought of wide problems that could person altered nan election.

Some Republicans are now pushing for Georgia’s State Election Board, which has a Trump-aligned majority, to return power of elections successful Fulton County, a measurement enabled by a arguable authorities rule passed successful 2021. But it’s unclear if aliases erstwhile nan committee will act.

Leavitt, successful nan White House, said Wednesday that Trump was “exploring his options” erstwhile it comes to a imaginable executive bid he teased connected societal media complete nan play designed to reside elector fraud.

Trump described Democrats arsenic “horrible, disingenuous CHEATERS” successful nan post, which is pinned to nan apical of his societal media account. He besides said that Republicans should characteristic specified claims “at nan apical of each speech.”

Leavitt, meanwhile, insisted Trump would beryllium focusing connected affordability and nan economy.

Greene has not gone quiet

Trump whitethorn beryllium distracted by caller attacks from Greene, erstwhile among nan president’s astir vocal friends successful Congress and now 1 of his loudest blimpish critics.

In a societal media station up of Trump’s visit, Greene noted that nan White House and Republican leaders met earlier successful nan week to create an effective midterm message. She suggested they were “on nan struggle bus” and blamed them for wellness security costs that ballooned this year.

“Approximately 75,000 households successful my erstwhile territory had their wellness security double aliases much connected January 1st of this twelvemonth because nan ACA taxation credits expired and Republicans person perfectly grounded to hole our wellness security strategy that was destroyed by Obamacare,” she said. “And you tin telephone maine each nan petty names you want, I don’t believe a man. I’m not successful a cult.”

Early voting has already begun successful nan typical predetermination to switch Greene, and nan starring Republican candidates person afloat embraced Trump.

Trump precocious endorsed Clay Fuller, a territory lawyer who prosecutes crimes successful 4 counties. Fuller described Trump’s endorsement arsenic “rocket fuel” for his candidacy successful a play question and reply and vowed to support an America First schedule moreover if he remains successful Congress aft Trump is nary longer president.

Other candidates see Republican erstwhile authorities Sen. Colton Moore, who made a sanction for himself pinch a vociferous onslaught connected Trump’s prosecution successful Georgia. Moore, nan favourite of galore far-right activists, said he’s been successful connection pinch Trump moreover aft Trump endorsed Fuller, calling nan prime “unfortunate.”

“I deliberation he’s nan top president of our lifetimes,” Moore said.

The apical Democrat successful nan title is Shawn Harris, who unsuccessfully ran against Greene successful 2024. Democrats sound dream for an upset, but nan territory is rated arsenic nan astir Republican territory successful Georgia by nan Cook Political Report.

Amy and Peoples constitute for nan Associated Press.