President Trump campaigned in Mobile, Alabama, to thank supporters and boost GOP turnout ahead of the midterms, touting the economy and defending U.S. actions related to Iran. He urged attendees to 'pretend' he is on the ballot, acknowledged higher oil prices tied to the conflict, and framed them as a necessary cost to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran. The visit highlighted Mobile's role in his political rise and aimed to help Republican candidates in key races, notably Alabama's 2nd Congressional District.
Trump Returns to Mobile to 'Thank' Supporters, Urging Voters to 'Pretend' He's on the Ballot as GOP Eyes Key House Seat
Gerald Herbert/AP Photo - PHOTO: Donald Trump
President Donald Trump rallied supporters in Mobile, Alabama, on Friday night, the latest stop in a multi-state push to boost Republican turnout ahead of midterm elections. Fresh from events in Texas and Oklahoma, Trump said he came to "pay respect" to loyal voters and announced plans to return for the Georgia-Alabama college football game next week.
Rally Highlights
Trump emphasized the economy, defended U.S. actions related to Iran, and repeatedly urged attendees to act as if he were on the ballot — a message aimed at increasing GOP turnout. Addressing the crowd, he said he believed Republicans perform better when his presence is at stake and asked supporters to 'close your eyes and pretend I'm on the ballot.'
Gerald Herbert/AP Photo - PHOTO: Donald Trump
'When I'm not on the ballot, we don't do well. ... When I'm on the ballot, we kill everybody,' Trump told the crowd.
On Iran and Oil
Trump acknowledged higher oil prices amid the confrontation with Iran but framed the increase as a relatively small cost to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He predicted prices could ease after the midterm elections and said the conflict might "probably" end around that time.
'You're paying a price, but boy, is that a small price than what it would be if these lunatics were allowed to have a nuclear weapon and used it on Mobile, Alabama,' he said.
Political Context in Alabama
Trump has carried Alabama by wide margins in recent presidential contests (2016: +27.7 points; 2020: +25.5 points; 2024: +30.5 points). He noted Mobile's role in his political rise, recalling a public endorsement from then-Sen. Jeff Sessions at a 2015 rally that became a turning point in his 2016 nomination campaign.
Alex Brandon/AP - PHOTO: President Donald Trump speaks at Peterbilt Motors, Oct. 1, 2026, in Denton, Texas.
Mobile now lies within Alabama's 1st Congressional District after mid-decade redistricting; that redrawn, Republican-leaning district would have supported Trump by roughly 40 points in 2024. The RNC also highlighted Mobile's media reach: the Mobile–Pensacola market extends into the western Florida Panhandle, giving the rally regional visibility beyond Alabama.
Races to Watch
The highest-profile contest in the state is the 2nd Congressional District, where Republican state Rep. Rhett Marques is challenging Democratic Rep. Shomari Figures. The district's lines changed after the Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which affected portions of the Voting Rights Act, and Alabama then reinstated a 2023 congressional map that federal courts had previously found to be discriminatory against Black Alabamians.
Al Drago/Getty Images - PHOTO: Rep. Barry Moore questions Special Counsel Jack Smith as he testifies during a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on January 22, 2026 in Washington, DC.
Figures won the seat in 2024 with 54.6% under a court-drawn map, but political ratings now list him as an underdog: the Cook Political Report labels him the 'clear underdog' and ABC News rates the contest as likely Republican. That race is one of several that could influence control of the U.S. House.
Who Joined Trump
Several Alabama Republicans appeared with Trump, including Sens. Tommy Tuberville (who is running for governor) and Katie Britt. Rep. Barry Moore — the state's Senate nominee who first backed Trump publicly at the 2015 Mobile rally — praised the trip. Former Rep. Jerry Carl, now the GOP nominee for the 1st District, called the visit an "honor."
Polls and Next Stops
According to an AP-NORC poll, Trump's job approval is at 31%, with 69% of Americans disapproving. After Alabama, Trump planned rallies in Ohio (where the Senate race is competitive) and Texas (including a stop in San Antonio), underscoring Republican concern about several tight Senate and House contests ahead of the midterms.
Bottom Line: The Mobile event served both as a thank-you stop for Trump's most loyal voters and as a strategic push to energize regional audiences and bolster Republican candidates in competitive races across Alabama and neighboring media markets.
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