Trump Draws Overflow Crowds at Florida Rally Ahead Midterms
Former U.S. President Joe Biden is facing a worsening health situation after his son Hunter Biden said the cancer has spread to his bones and described the disease as "very painful" and "very debilitating."
A packed arena and crowds gathered outside greeted U.S. President Donald Trump in Fort Myers, Florida, on Friday, October 23, as he campaigned for Republican candidates ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. The rally focused on Florida’s gubernatorial and Senate races, with Trump urging supporters to help Republicans retain political power.
Before the event, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presented Trump with a custom gold challenge coin depicting the president making an obscene gesture. The coin carried the phrase “YOU MISSED BITCHES,” referring to the two assassination attempts Trump faced in 2024. DeSantis told reporters that a friend made the coins and that he had asked for one to give to the president.
The exchange also drew attention to the history between the two Republicans. DeSantis challenged Trump during the 2024 Republican presidential primary, when the former allies became political rivals. During Trump’s second term, however, DeSantis has supported several of the president’s initiatives, including measures involving immigration and Florida’s political map.
At the rally, Trump highlighted the turnout and claimed that a line of people outside stretched for 10 miles. He said he had rarely seen such enthusiasm for a midterm election, comparing the crowd with attendance at Democratic events. The crowd was visibly large, although Trump’s estimate of the line’s length was not independently established in the available reporting.
Trump used the event to promote Rep. Byron Donalds, the Republican candidate for Florida governor, and Sen. Ashley Moody, who is seeking election to a full Senate term. Donalds is running against former Republican congressman David Jolly, now a Democrat, while Moody faces Democratic candidate Angie Nixon.
Donalds told attendees that his campaign would focus on government accountability, affordability, lower taxes and insurance costs. Trump endorsed Donalds and Moody, while criticizing their opponents and portraying the races as part of a broader contest between Republicans and Democrats. Those remarks reflected the president’s campaign message rather than an independent assessment of the candidates’ records or proposals.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. secretary of health and human services, also addressed the rally. He thanked Trump for supporting American commercial fishing and discussed a new labeling initiative intended to help consumers identify seafood produced in the United States. His appearance expanded the event beyond Florida’s state races to include an administration policy announcement.
The Florida visit came as early voting was underway across the state. With Election Day approaching, both parties were holding campaign events and encouraging supporters to cast ballots. Trump’s appearance was part of a wider effort to use his national profile to support Republican candidates in competitive races.
The rally’s crowd size and the president’s endorsements provided a high-profile campaign moment, but they do not establish how voters will ultimately decide the races. The results on November 3 will determine the outcomes of Florida’s gubernatorial and Senate contests, while also contributing to the national balance of power in Congress.
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