The president urged voters to elect Mazzei and Hern and renewed his promise of $5,000 checks if Republicans retain Congress.
DURANT — President Donald Trump defended the proposed aluminum smelter in Inola and endorsed Cindy Byrd for state treasurer Thursday. He also urged Oklahoma voters to elect Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Mazzei and send U.S. Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Tulsa, to the Senate.
Speaking at the Choctaw Event Center, Trump described the visit as a show of appreciation for Oklahoma.
“I really came here to pay my respect to a place, really to a place that I love and I appreciate,” he said.
Trump asked supporters to approach the Nov. 3 midterm election as though he were on the ballot himself.
“We do great when I’m on the ballot. When I’m not on the ballot, people don’t go and vote so much,” he said. “Pretend I’m running, please.”
He tied that appeal to maintaining Republican control of Congress.
“And if we don’t win, they’ll end up impeaching me,” he said.
Support for the Inola smelter
Trump praised the proposed smelter’s financial backers and predicted jobs and economic benefits for Oklahoma.
“I know the people that are financing it. So a lot of people talk about financing, but they have no money. This is unlimited money,” he said.
The project is being developed by Emirates Global Aluminium and Century Aluminum. The companies say it would become the largest primary aluminum production plant in the United States and more than double current domestic production.
Trump pointed to support from Gov. Kevin Stitt and Mazzei, whom he repeatedly described as Oklahoma’s future governor.
“And both governors, your current governor and your future governor, are totally in favor of it,” he said.
He also offered to take responsibility if residents were dissatisfied.
“If you’re not, you can blame me. You know what I’ll do? I’ll lose two counties. I’ll be at 75 instead of 77,” he said, referring to his election victories in every Oklahoma county.
“You can blame me, but you’re going to find it to be amazing.”
The project and its public incentives also came up in Thursday’s OETA gubernatorial debate. Mazzei defended its potential to create jobs and expand domestic aluminum production. Democratic nominee Cyndi Munson criticized public support for a foreign corporation.
Support for Oklahoma Republicans
Trump singled out Byrd, the state auditor and inspector and Republican nominee for treasurer, during his remarks.
She faces Libertarian Kiefer Perry in the Nov. 3 election.
“I’m endorsing right now, Byrd. Where the hell is Byrd? Where are you? Stand up,” he said.
“She’s fantastic,” he added. “You have my endorsement 100% complete and total.”
Trump also expressed confidence in Mazzei and Hern, while warning supporters they still needed to vote.
A renewed $5,000 promise
Trump repeated his pledge to send $5,000 payments to adult U.S. citizens if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress.
“But if the Republicans win the House and the Senate, I am going to give all adult citizens in the United States a check for $5,000 each,” he said.
Trump said tariff collections and economic growth would make the payments possible.
“And Republicans can do it, and Democrats can’t, because we’re taking in massive amounts of money through tariffs and record-setting economic success,” he said.
Winning the election would not itself authorize the payments. House Speaker Mike Johnson has said Congress would need to approve them. The Associated Press has reported that the proposal could cost more than $1 trillion.
Trump presented the election as a choice between his policies and those of Democrats, whom he repeatedly called communists.
“But if you want to keep America the strongest, most successful nation in the world, the most respected nation, and we are now the most respected nation in the world, you must vote Republican,” he said.
