President Donald Trump told supporters at a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, on Saturday that he may withhold federal financial assistance from the state if Democrats win the November 3 midterm elections.
Campaigning for Republican Senate candidate Jon Husted and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump said Republicans in control of the state would have a direct line to his administration for federal help — but warned he would be less willing to work with Ohio if Democrats prevail.
"If you do that, we're going to win, and we're going to win big, and we're going to shove it up their ass," Trump said of the upcoming elections. On Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, he added: "But I'm not going to help her." He also called Democrats "dumb son of a bitches."
High stakes in Ohio
Husted faces former US Senator Sherrod Brown in one of eight competitive Senate races that will decide control of the narrowly divided chamber. Ramaswamy faces Acton for the governor's office.
The rally came as Trump's popularity has fallen in recent months, with petrol and staple prices persisting amid the US-Israeli war with Iran. Ohio petrol has risen 35 percent over the past year to $4.16 a gallon, according to AAA, and Canada's retaliatory tariffs have affected about $3 billion of Ohio exports.
Trump carried Ohio with more than 55 percent of the vote in 2024, but polls suggest Democrats could gain ground in the midterms.
Husted used the rally to attack Brown's record: "He's been in office for 50 years — can you name one thing that he has done for you?" Brown's campaign, through spokesperson Lauren Chou, criticised Husted for backing Trump's Iran policy and "sweetheart tax deals" luring data centres to Ohio. Outside groups have made the Husted-Brown contest the second-most-expensive Senate race in the country, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Sources: Reuters via The Straits Times: In crude Ohio rally speech, Trump says he may not help the state if Democrats win, Northland News Radio: In crude Ohio rally speech, Trump says he may not help if Democrats win
Campaigning for Republican Senate candidate Jon Husted and Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Trump said Republicans in control of the state would have a direct line to his administration for federal help — but warned he would be less willing to work with Ohio if Democrats prevail.
"If you do that, we're going to win, and we're going to win big, and we're going to shove it up their ass," Trump said of the upcoming elections. On Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton, he added: "But I'm not going to help her." He also called Democrats "dumb son of a bitches."
High stakes in Ohio
Husted faces former US Senator Sherrod Brown in one of eight competitive Senate races that will decide control of the narrowly divided chamber. Ramaswamy faces Acton for the governor's office.
The rally came as Trump's popularity has fallen in recent months, with petrol and staple prices persisting amid the US-Israeli war with Iran. Ohio petrol has risen 35 percent over the past year to $4.16 a gallon, according to AAA, and Canada's retaliatory tariffs have affected about $3 billion of Ohio exports.
Trump carried Ohio with more than 55 percent of the vote in 2024, but polls suggest Democrats could gain ground in the midterms.
Husted used the rally to attack Brown's record: "He's been in office for 50 years — can you name one thing that he has done for you?" Brown's campaign, through spokesperson Lauren Chou, criticised Husted for backing Trump's Iran policy and "sweetheart tax deals" luring data centres to Ohio. Outside groups have made the Husted-Brown contest the second-most-expensive Senate race in the country, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
Sources: Reuters via The Straits Times: In crude Ohio rally speech, Trump says he may not help the state if Democrats win, Northland News Radio: In crude Ohio rally speech, Trump says he may not help if Democrats win
