In his first campaign rally aimed at the Asian American and Pacific Islander community this election cycle, former President Donald Trump took the stage Thursday night in Las Vegas with a speech focused on the economy, public safety and immigration to a group he says he thinks he can. get started with it.
Trump headlined the “Unite for Change” rally, which was organized by the conservative PAC “Turning Point USA” and also featured speeches by former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
“Under the Trump Administration, we will build an economy that lifts up all Americans, including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, as well as members of our great Asian American and Pacific Islander community, many of whom are here today, especially so many great Filipinos from Nevada,” Trump said.
Asian Americans now make up 12% of Nevada’s electorate, with Filipinos the largest subgroup. Election results in recent years indicate that AAPI support for Democrats is eroding. In 2020, President Joe Biden won 64% of the state’s Asian American vote, while Trump won 35%.
But in 2022, support for the Nevada governor’s race was more divided among local Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, who voted blue by only an 8% margin.
Speaking to a diverse AAPI group whose voices he is trying to court, he revived an old talking point, calling Covid the “China virus.”
“You know, President Xi of China… he’s a friend of mine. I thought we were actually very close. But honestly, Covid, or as I call it ‘the China virus’, was a step too far,” he said.
It’s the kind of language that studies show has caused a dramatic increase in anti-Asian hate and violence during the pandemic and in the years since.
“This particular rhetoric, which associates a racial group with a global pandemic, has particularly damaging consequences,” researcher Eli Michaels told NBC News in 2020.
Trump took a moment to praise the Filipino community, saying he likes their clothes.
“They had the most beautiful clothes, such bright colors,” he said. “I said, ‘Where are all these people coming from?’ … You are the best people, hardworking people, and we are going to take care of you.”
The Harris campaign has also been trying to reach out to Filipino Americans in Nevada for months, releasing ads in the language, hosting meals for community members and recruiting locals to join the campaign.
“Just as we are seeing massive shifts among Hispanics and the Black community, this is a group that is poised to resonate powerfully with President Trump’s message of economic empowerment, law and order, safe streets and a return to orderly, sound immigration policies Turning Point founder and president Charlie Kirk said in a press release ahead of the Las Vegas event.
During his hour-long speech, the former president largely stuck to his campaign messages, with promises to cut taxes, get rid of undocumented immigrants and restore public safety if he is elected in November. He also attacked Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her “incompetent” and saying she would be worse for Americans on these issues.
Ramaswamy and Gabbard were showered with praise from Trump, who said his Indian-American former presidential rival “has a great mouthpiece.”
“He has a great future in this party,” he said.
Vivek took the stage before Trump and spoke briefly about his family’s immigrant background.
“Like many of you in the audience, I say this as the child of legal immigrants to this country.” “That means your first act of entering this country cannot break the law. And that is why, if we have the largest influx of illegal aliens into this country in American history, we will have the largest mass deportation in American history.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
