DALTON, Ga. – President Donald Trump returned to Georgia on Friday afternoon to headline a campaign rally in Dalton, aiming to energize Republican voters in critical statewide races ahead of the midterm elections.
Trump joined Rep. Mike Collins, who is challenging Sen. Jon Ossoff for Georgia’s senior U.S. Senate seat, and businessman Rick Jackson, who faces former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms in the race to succeed term-limited Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp.
Trump headlines Dalton rally with Collins, Jackson
What we know:
Trump was scheduled to land at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Cobb County before traveling by helicopter north to Whitfield County for the rally, which begins at 3 p.m. at Dalton Municipal Airport. The president arrived behind schedule and took the stage around 4:20 p.m.
The event marks the first time this fall that Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Collins and Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Jackson shared a campaign stage.
Trump’s visit followed a campaign stop in Atlanta earlier this week by Vice President JD Vance, underscoring the GOP’s sustained push to maximize turnout across North Georgia while early voting is underway.
Trump takes stage with Collins, Jackson
What they’re saying:
Collins welcomed Trump back to Georgia on Friday during a campaign stop in Dalton to energize voters ahead of the general election. He pledged to unseat Ossoff and urged attendees to back his Senate bid on Nov. 3.
“Thank you, President Trump, for joining us,” Collins told the crowd. “Thank you for standing to fight with us as well.”
Collins rallies Dalton voters
What they’re saying:
Collins leveled sharp personal and political criticisms against Ossoff, characterizing the incumbent as out of touch with working Georgians. He took direct aim at Ossoff’s debate performance earlier in the week.
“Now, for those of who don’t [know] my opponent, John Ossoff, Let’s let me tell you a little bit about it,” Collins said. “See, John Ossoff’s a guy who wants to talk like Obama, wants to look like a Kennedy, lie like Pinocchio, and vote like Bernie Sanders.”
Collins continued his attack on Ossoff’s personal wealth and career history.
“Y’all, this guy’s nothing but a trust fund kid who’s never had a real job in his life,” Collins said. “The only thing he knows how to work is the ATM machine getting his granddaddy’s money out.”
Collins argued that Ossoff opposes conservative values and consistently votes for progressive policy measures.
“This guy has never seen a tax increase that he didn’t like, a DSA candidate that he wouldn’t support, a wide-open border that he doesn’t like or a Bernie Sanders bill that he wouldn’t vote for,” Collins said. “It’s because he likes representing Hollywood Hills more than he does these North Georgia mountains.”
He further branded Ossoff as an establishment product loyal to Democratic leadership in Washington.
“John Ossoff, he ain’t nothing but a test tube Democrat,” Collins said. “A test tube Democrat that was created in a lab by Chuck Schumer to make our life less safe, more expensive, and worse off.”
Collins promised to remove Ossoff from office in the general election.
“November the 3rd, we’re going to take that lab experiment,” Collins said. “And we’re gonna throw it in the garbage can, Dalton.”
Collins calls Ossoff ‘lab experiment’
Representative Mike Collins campaigned alongside Donald Trump in Dalton, criticizing opponent John Ossoff while highlighting the impact of the Laken Riley Act on immigration enforcement.
“We’re going to send John Ossoff on a little magic carpet ride back to New York, California, London, wherever he came from, because he sure doesn’t represent us,” Collins added.
Collins pointed to his decades operating a freight business in Jackson to contrast his work history with his opponent. He emphasized that building a company from the ground up prepared him to represent taxpayers.
“For those of you that don’t know me, I’m Mike Collins,” he said. “I’m just an old blue-collar trucker from Jackson, Georgia.”
Collins told supporters that his business career demonstrates a commitment to local economic growth.
“I’ve been in the trucking business all my life,” Collins said. “Started with one truck.”
“I know what hard work does,” Collins said. “Hard work is building a business from the ground up and then supporting hundreds of Georgia families.”
Collins said his platform centers on job creation and local representation.
“You’re going go get somebody that has created jobs and opportunities right here in this red clay of Georgia,” he said.
“Somebody that’s going to vote for us,” Collins said. “Not against us, somebody that’s going to put our state people, and that’s right, America first.”
Collins contrasted his record with Ossoff’s statements during a debate on Tuesday.
“Now y’all know what what John Ossoff said in the debate Tuesday night, John, John OssoFF said in debate Tuesday that the Lake and Raleigh Act went overboard,” Collins said. “Overboard.”
“Georgia, y’all realize that today we’ve got the most secure border in the history of this country?” Collins asked. “And John Ossoff hates it.”
“As a matter of fact, John Oscoff hates Trump more than he loves Georgia,” Collins said. “Yeah, that’s right, it’s shameful.”
Collins asked the crowd to deliver a decisive victory on Nov. 3 to affirm the state’s conservative political identity. He pledged that winning the seat would lead to a more prosperous state.
“Help me, help me show America, the world, that Georgia’s not blue, it’s not purple, it is a Ruby Red State!” Collins said. “Georgia, listen to me. I do need your help.”
“Y’all help me get to the U.S. Senate,” Collins said. “You put me in the Senate and I’ll keep delivering.”
“I’ll keeping delivering a more affordable, more prosperous, more productive Georgia,” Collins said. “And when I get there, I’ll haul that little trust fund kid out of here.”
Jackson targets Bottom’s Atlanta record
What they’re saying:
In a campaign address rallying supporters with 18 days until the election, candidate Jackson leveled sharp accusations against opponent Keisha Lance Bottoms, according to recorded campaign remarks. Jackson argued that Bottoms failed during her tenure leading Atlanta, claiming, “She sided with criminals over police. That’s disqualified.”
Jackson asserted that violent crime surged, and city leadership neglected residents under her watch. “Murders and crimes skyrocketed,” Jackson said. “Police and entire communities were abandoned.”
The candidate also contended that local economic pressures intensified while Bottoms held office. “Businesses closed. Prices went up,” Jackson said, arguing that Atlanta experienced severe economic distress.
“The highest inflation over the entire nation over 50 years was 40% higher in Atlanta,” Jackson said. He added, “Political insiders got rewarded while everybody else suffered.”
Jackson stated that Bottoms stepped away during a critical municipal moment. “And then when her city needed her the most, Keisha Lance Bottoms walked away. She abandoned. Atlanta,” Jackson said.
Jackson warned voters against electing Bottoms statewide. “Bad mayors don’t make good government. We cannot let her do to Georgia what she did to Atlanta,” Jackson said.
Jackson detailed a series of fiscal policies aimed at lowering everyday household expenses across Georgia. “I’ll freeze and lower property taxes. I’ll cut the taxes in half,” Jackson pledged.
The candidate promised to step down after delivering those tax reductions. “I won’t run again. You can expect me and hold that up,” Jackson told attendees.
Energy and utility expenses also featured prominently in the candidate’s platform. “I’ll eliminate the gas tax when prices spike, just like they have recently, and save you money on utility bills,” Jackson said.
Jackson vowed to challenge healthcare intermediaries to lower medical expenses. “I will make your life more affordable. I’ll take on the insurance companies and eliminate the middlemen who drive up health care costs,” Jackson said.
Highlighting support from current state leadership, Jackson cited backing from Georgia’s chief executive. “I am proud to have Governor Kemp’s endorsement,” Jackson said.
Jackson argued that the administration built a foundation that needs further expansion rather than rollback. “He knows what this job takes, and I’m honored he’s trusting me to build on the foundation that he’s made,” Jackson said, adding that Bottoms “wants to undo our progress in Georgia.”
On classroom policies, Jackson pledged direct support and higher compensation for educators. “I’ll make sure Georgia’s children get the education they deserve, raise teacher pay, and support our teachers and have their back when they need discipline,” Jackson said.
Jackson also advocated for structural limits on state politicians while offering unwavering backing to officers. “I’ll hold every part of government accountable and enact term limits,” Jackson said. “And I’ll support law enforcement 110%. No apologies.”
Jackson criticizes former mayor’s record
Republican Georgia gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson touted an endorsement from Gov. Brian Kemp while vowing to cut taxes, lower healthcare costs, and counter former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ political legacy.
Audience members voiced vocal agreement during the address, with an attendee shouting, “No backing down.” Another supporter called out, “Thank you, thank you,” during pauses in the speech.
Jackson connected personal adversity to public service, sharing memories of growing up in poverty. “I grew up in foster care. My mom was a sixth-grade-educated waitress,” Jackson told the crowd.
Financial constraints prevented the completion of higher education during Jackson’s youth. “I couldn’t afford to finish college. I had seven stepfathers by the time I was 12,” Jackson said.
Jackson spoke about the long-term impact of childhood abandonment. “I know what it’s like to have nothing, and I know it’s what it is like to struggle, to make ends meet, and to have food,” Jackson said, describing abandonment as “a severe psychological problem for me over my entire life.”
Before seeking elected office, Jackson transitioned from early hardships to executive leadership. “I spent my career building organizations, creating jobs, and solving hard problems,” Jackson said, pledging never to abandon struggling Georgians.
Jackson framed the gubernatorial bid as an effort centered on service rather than prestige. “Georgia deserves a governor who will stay, do the work, and finish the job. I don’t need the money. I’m not interested in the title,” Jackson said.
Jackson closed the address by asking for divine blessings across the state and nation. “God bless you, God bless Georgia, and God bless the United States of America,” Jackson said.
The Dalton crowd
By the numbers:
More than 1,000 people showed up to the event inside a 14,000-square-foot Dalton Airport hanger braving the heat, which the president noted during his speech.
His remarks were interrupted at one point by a protester, but no security incidents have been reported during Trump’s trip.
Protestors removed from Trump campaign rally in Dalton
While speaking at a campaign rally in Dalton, President Trump was interrupted by the crowd booing at individuals holding anti-ICE banners. The protestors were removed promptly by security. Listen to what Trump said about the protestors.
GOP, Democratic tickets ramp up statewide rallies
What’s next:
While Friday marked the first joint appearance for the top of the Republican ticket, Democratic candidates have been traveling together across the state. Ossoff and Bottoms are scheduled to hold their next joint rally Saturday in Cobb County.
National figures will continue making stops in Georgia through the final weeks of early voting. Former Vice President Kamala Harris is reportedly planning a three-day campaign swing through the state beginning Oct. 28.
The Source: Information in this article was gathered from campaign announcements, candidate statements, and reporting by FOX 5 reporter Kim Leoffler at Dobbins Air Reserve Base.