President Donald Trump campaigned in Mississippi on Monday as part of a final stretch of midterm appearances that has taken him to several Republican-leaning states.
The rally was held for Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, who faces a challenge from Democrat Scott Colom in a state that has long favored Republicans. The election could help determine control of Congress and state governments.
"I’m here because Cindy’s doing great, but I just got to make sure. I can’t take a chance," Trump told the crowd, his voice audibly hoarse, as he urged support for Hyde-Smith.
Colom was also at the rally site. Trump later attacked him from the stage, calling him a "Marxist radical" and a "fake" and "shameless phony who pretends to be a moderate." Before the president arrived, Colom said he had planned to listen to Trump’s supporters.
"They actually deserve a senator that will listen to them, that actually cares about what they think, actually cares about what they’re going through," Colom said.
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Hyde-Smith Had Spoken Earlier at the Rally
The brief exchange that circulated online was not Hyde-Smith’s only appearance at the event. She spoke earlier in the program, telling voters the Senate’s control was at stake on November 3 and asking them to send her back to Washington to be "that fighter with the president."
Trump spoke for more than 80 minutes before inviting Hyde-Smith back onto the stage. She asked the crowd, "Is this not the best president in our lifetime?" and then promptly left. Trump responded, "That was a record," and, "That was great." The nine-word count refers to this later exchange, not to Hyde-Smith’s remarks across the entire rally.
Newsweek has reached out to Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith’s office, her campaign and the White House for comment and is awaiting responses.
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Clips of the exchange circulated on X, including posts by Acyn and Aaron Rupar. Some social-media users described the moment as awkward and questioned why Hyde-Smith’s appearance was so brief.
Others argued that the clip reflected the challenge Republican candidates can face when sharing a rally stage with Trump: his long speeches can leave them relatively little time to make their own pitch. Trump often invites candidates onto the stage during rallies and asks them to keep their remarks brief.
Why Trump Is Campaigning for Hyde-Smith
Mississippi is among the country’s most reliably Republican states, and Trump won it three times. Hyde-Smith remains favored, but Colom’s campaign has drawn national attention and Democratic spending.
The Senate Majority PAC, which is aligned with Democrats, announced a $1.2 million television ad campaign supporting Colom. Former Vice President Kamala Harris also campaigned with him days before Trump’s visit.
The contest is part of a wider campaign push by both parties ahead of the midterms. Voter discontent over inflation, the war in Iran and other aspects of Trump’s presidency has helped Democrats expand the number of House and Senate races they are contesting. Trump’s schedule includes further appearances in states he won in 2024, including Texas, South Carolina and Iowa, as well as a planned rally in Kansas.
Hyde-Smith was appointed to the Senate in 2018 after Thad Cochran resigned and later won a special election to complete his term. She was the first woman to represent Mississippi in the Senate.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Robinson and James Debens
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