President Donald Trump is promising voters a “Surprise!” ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, pointing to what he described as record-breaking enthusiasm at his recent rallies in red states.
In a Tuesday morning post on Truth Social, the president celebrated the turnout he has drawn in states including Nebraska, Ohio and Oklahoma, declaring that “nobody has seen anything like it.”
“My Rally crowds and enthusiasm are unbelievable! Nobody has ever seen anything like it,” Trump wrote.
The president went on to suggest that the energy on display at his events is translating into momentum for Republicans at the ballot box.
“We are flipping races all over the place,” he wrote. “The Fake News knows it, but they don’t want to be truthful with their viewers. It’s all happening!”
Trump also took aim at Democrats, using his nickname for the party, while offering praise to the media outlets that have aired his events from start to finish.
“The Dumocrats never counted on this. Thanks you to the great Networks that are covering the Rallies in full. They are being rewarded with BIG RATINGS,” he wrote.
The president closed the post with a teaser that is sure to keep political observers guessing in the weeks ahead.
“Watch for the ‘Midterm Surprise!'” he added.
Trump did not specify what the surprise would be.
The Truth Social post came just hours after Trump took the stage in Grand Island, Nebraska, where he addressed a crowd of supporters who cheered during his remarks. During the speech, the president spoke about the ongoing war with Iran.
“And again, remember, with the war, it’s just artificial. It’s a little bit high. It’s a small price to pay for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe,” Trump said. “They could take out a city. Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego. This is a very small price to pay, and it’s gonna be over with very soon.”
The comments quickly drew widespread condemnation from critics, who seized on the president’s mention of the two California cities.
But several defenders of the president pushed back on that characterization, insisting Trump was not encouraging Iran to attack American cities. Among those coming to the president’s defense on the point was an unlikely voice: CNN’s Daniel Dale, a well-known fact-checker who has frequently scrutinized Trump’s statements. Dale was among those who rejected the claim that the president was urging Iran to strike the United States.
The back-and-forth over the Nebraska remarks underscores the intense attention surrounding the president’s rally appearances as the midterm elections draw closer. Trump has made the events a centerpiece of his political message, and he has repeatedly pointed to the size of the crowds as evidence of support for his agenda in the heartland.
The rallies are taking place against the backdrop of the war with Iran, which began on Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel launched joint airstrikes. The conflict recently passed the seven-month mark.
Trump has said the war will be “over with very soon.”
As for the “Midterm Surprise,” the president has left voters and pundits alike waiting to see what he has in store.
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