CHIPPEWA FALLS, WIS. — President Donald Trump spoke at Custer Farms in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, on Friday. Representative Derrick Van Orden appeared onstage with Trump during the event.
Van Orden is seeking reelection to his House seat. Inside Elections rates his race as Tilt Republican, while The Cook Political Report rates it as a Toss Up. Trump mentioned Van Orden approximately 26 minutes into his speech.
During his remarks, Trump discussed U.S. policy toward Iran and addressed interest rates and inflation. He also criticized judges, public officials, and politicians he described as "crooked." Trump defended a federal project to refurbish the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and discussed the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt against him in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Trump called on Van Orden to speak approximately 51 minutes into the event. "Derrick. This guy is, he fights hard." Trump said. He added, "He loves them all and he's very popular and he's going to win by a lot." Van Orden spoke for just over one minute. "You call him, he answers the phone, and he understands these issues inside and out." Van Orden said.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in December that Trump would campaign actively during the midterm election cycle. Wiles stated, "Typically in the midterms it's not about who's sitting at the White House. You localize the election, and you keep the federal officials out of it. We're actually going to turn that on its head and put him on the ballot because so many of those low propensity voters are Trump voters."
No independent assessment of President Donald Trump’s claims was available.