Trump and Emhoff Gear Up for High-Stakes Stump in Tucson This Thursday

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is set to address supporters in Tucson on Thursday, taking the stage at the 2,200-seat Linda Ronstadt Music Hall. On the same day, Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, will also make a campaign appearance in the city.

According to Trump’s campaign, he will focus on the current economic challenges and the rising cost of housing during his speech. The campaign aims to resonate particularly with Latino voters, emphasizing their trust in Trump’s ability to “Make America Affordable and Safe Again,” a phrase that plays off his “MAGA” branding.

Details regarding Emhoff’s event remain sparse, but the Harris campaign describes it as part of the “New Way Forward battleground tour,” designed to connect with voters and generate enthusiasm ahead of the election.

Trump’s prior visit to Arizona included a photo opportunity at the border in Cochise County, where he reiterated his stance on crime attributed to illegal immigration and the nation’s economic struggles. “We have to have strong protection in our country, or our country is going to wither away,” he stated during that visit.

The upcoming Tucson speech will likely target Vice President Harris’s policies, as Trump’s campaign noted that he would address the impact of these policies on Arizonans and discuss why many Hispanic voters are shifting toward the Republican Party.

Trump has shown a consistent commitment to his hardline immigration stance, previously stating in a Wisconsin rally that mass deportations would be “a bloody story.”

Democrats have criticized Trump’s visits, including U.S. Senator Mark Kelly’s remarks that labeled Trump’s stop at the border as a mere publicity stunt. Kelly asserted, “Arizonans and Americans across the country see through this, and they know that there’s only one person interested in finding real solutions to the issues at our border, and that is Vice President Harris.”

Kelly also noted that Trump’s commentary derailed bipartisan efforts regarding the Border Act of 2024, which sought to enhance border security. The legislation, developed by a coalition featuring independent, Democratic, and Republican senators, was deemed “dead on arrival” after Trump’s opposition.

In connection to past engagements, Trump’s 2016 campaign left an $82,000 invoice unpaid for security services during a rally at the Tucson Convention Center. In response, the city now requires advance payment for political events.

The upcoming event at the Music Hall will cost approximately $145,000, covered by the Trump 47 Committee Inc. The doors are set to open at 11 a.m., with Trump scheduled to speak at 2 p.m. Attendees can obtain tickets through the campaign’s site, needing to register with a confirmed mobile number.

Representing Southern Arizona, U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani is unlikely to attend due to Congress being in session. Similarly, U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva has been limiting public appearances after undergoing cancer treatment and is not expected to participate in campaign events this week.