Here’s what President Trump had to say.
President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to American voters Friday, arguing that tax relief, border security and other major Republican priorities could be threatened if the GOP loses political power in the midterm elections.
Speaking to a packed crowd in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Trump urged his supporters to return to the polls even though his name will not appear on the ballot.
His message was aimed particularly at Republicans preparing to vote in the state’s closely watched Senate runoff between Sen. Darline Graham and Rep. Ralph Norman.
Trump told the audience to approach the election as though they were voting for him personally.
“What I really want you to do is pretend, please, that I’m on the ballot,” Trump said while urging supporters to vote.
But the president quickly turned to a much bigger issue: what he believes Americans stand to lose if Republicans fail to maintain political control.
Trump Warns Voters About Taxes, Border Security
Trump argued that the upcoming elections could determine the future of some of the most important policies his administration has championed.
He specifically pointed to border security and tax relief while warning supporters about the consequences of a Republican defeat.
“If we lose, you’re going to lose your border, you’re going to lose your tax cuts, you’re going to lose everything that we’ve done,” Trump warned.
For millions of Americans concerned about taxes, retirement and the cost of living, Trump’s next warning may have been even more significant.
The president highlighted tax provisions involving Social Security benefits, tips and overtime pay as examples of policies he believes could be endangered by a change in political control.
Trump urged voters to remember those issues before deciding whether to stay home on Election Day.
Social Security and Tax Relief Take Center Stage
Trump specifically called attention to tax relief affecting seniors and working Americans.
He pointed to provisions involving taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits while arguing that Republican voters cannot assume those policies will remain untouched if Democrats regain power.
For older Americans living on fixed incomes, Social Security and taxes remain major pocketbook concerns. Working families are similarly focused on how federal tax policy affects the money they ultimately keep.
Trump used those economic concerns to make the case that congressional elections can have consequences reaching far beyond Washington.
His argument was straightforward: Even though voters are not choosing a president this year, they are choosing lawmakers who can either advance or obstruct the president’s agenda.
Trump Predicts Democrats Would Try to Impeach Him
Trump also raised another possibility that immediately energized the political stakes surrounding the midterms.
He predicted Democrats would attempt to impeach him if they gain enough power in Congress.
“I’m going to be impeached,” Trump told the crowd while discussing what he believes would happen following a Republican defeat.
Trump was impeached twice during his first presidency and was acquitted by the Senate both times.
The president’s warning underscores why control of Congress matters so much to both parties.
The House possesses the constitutional power to impeach a president, while the Senate conducts an impeachment trial. Congressional majorities also play enormous roles in federal spending, taxes, immigration legislation, investigations and the president’s broader legislative agenda.
For Trump, those realities make Republican turnout one of his biggest political priorities heading into the midterms.
Trump Tells MAGA Voters: Pretend I’m Running
One challenge Republicans face is getting presidential-election voters to participate when Trump himself is not running.
Trump addressed that issue directly in Myrtle Beach.
He urged supporters to mentally put his name on the ballot and vote with the same urgency they would bring to a presidential election.
The strategy could prove important as Republicans fight to protect their position in Washington.
Trump remains a dominant force among Republican voters, but congressional candidates must persuade those supporters to participate without having the president at the top of the ticket.
In South Carolina, Trump is attempting to transfer that support directly to Graham.
Why Trump Is Backing Darline Graham
Graham was appointed to the Senate seat previously held by her late brother, Sen. Lindsey Graham, and is now campaigning for a full six-year term.
She finished first in the initial Republican primary vote on Aug. 11 with 32.7%.
Norman finished second with 24.6%, while Rep. Russell Fry came in third with 19.7%.
Because Graham failed to secure a majority, she and Norman advanced to the Aug. 25 runoff.
The contest has become an important test of Trump’s influence within the Republican Party.
Both candidates appeal to conservative voters, but Trump has thrown his political weight behind Graham and personally traveled to Myrtle Beach to encourage his supporters to back her.
Graham Delivers Emotional Tribute to Trump
The rally also included a deeply personal moment involving Graham and the president.
Graham thanked Trump for the eulogy he delivered following the death of her brother.
She described Trump as one of Lindsey Graham’s closest friends and told the president that he would always have a place in the Graham family.
Trump had encouraged Darline Graham to seek the Senate seat following her brother’s death, strengthening the personal dimension of his endorsement.
The president has since made clear that he wants his supporters to help send her back to Washington for a full term.
Trump Rally Interrupted by Protester
Friday’s event included many of the features that have defined Trump rallies for years.
During his lengthy speech, Trump returned to familiar themes including illegal immigration, taxes and the future of the country.
He also recited “The Snake,” a story he has frequently used at rallies as an illustration of his views on illegal immigration.
At another point, a protester interrupted the event.
Trump briefly stopped before joking that the protester’s mother was probably one of his supporters.
The moment drew attention from the crowd before the president continued with his remarks.
Major Republicans Join Trump in South Carolina
Trump was joined by several prominent Republicans during the Myrtle Beach event.
Among those appearing were Sens. Tim Scott of South Carolina and John Barrasso of Wyoming, Rep. Russell Fry and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Their appearances added national attention to a Senate contest that could otherwise have been viewed primarily as a state political battle.
Trump, however, repeatedly framed the election as part of something much larger.
To the president, Republican victories in individual congressional races are essential to protecting his agenda in Washington.
Border Security Remains a Major Trump Issue
Immigration also played a significant role in Trump’s message.
Border security has remained one of the defining issues of his political career, and the president warned that Republican losses could threaten the immigration policies his administration has pursued.
For conservative voters who consider illegal immigration and border enforcement top priorities, that warning could provide another reason to participate in the midterms.
Trump’s message connected immigration policy with taxes, Social Security and congressional control — giving voters several reasons to view the elections as a referendum on the direction of the country.
South Carolina Race Becomes Test of Trump’s Influence
The Graham-Norman runoff will provide an early indication of how effectively Trump can mobilize his political base when he is not personally seeking office.
That could have implications well beyond South Carolina.
Republicans will need strong turnout across the country if they hope to protect their congressional position during the midterms.
Democrats, meanwhile, are seeking victories that could give them greater power to challenge Trump’s policies and investigate his administration.
That leaves control of Congress — and potentially the direction of Trump’s presidency — hanging over races across the country.
Trump Ends With an Unusual Promise
Trump finished with a lighter incentive for voters in Myrtle Beach, a city famous for its golf courses.
The president promised that if Graham wins the election, he would return and challenge the best golfer in Myrtle Beach to a match.
It was a humorous ending to an otherwise serious political warning.
Trump’s central message throughout the rally was that Republicans cannot afford to assume their previous victories will protect their policies indefinitely.
Taxes, Social Security, immigration, congressional investigations and the future of Trump’s agenda could all be affected by which party controls Capitol Hill.
And that is why Trump wants supporters who would normally turn out to vote for him to show up again — even when his name isn’t on the ballot.
