Trump urges Mobile rally crowd to 'pretend I'm on the ballot' as midterm push kicks off across deep-red states

From the Newshound archive · first published 3 October 2026.

President Donald Trump told roughly 8,000 supporters in Mobile, Alabama on Friday night to vote as though he personally is on the November ballot, framing the midterm campaign as a referendum on his presidency. The Mitchell Center on the University of South Alabama campus was around 75 percent full when Trump took the stage, with supporters having queued for hours before doors opened. Trump said he plans to return next week, calling his Alabama appearance a show of respect to loyal supporters.

Trump acknowledged his approval rating has fallen since the Iran war began in February, but promised oil prices will drop once the conflict ends.