Trump holds rally in New Mexico, targets rivals

Former U.S. President Donald Trump held a campaign rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, despite the state's historical Democratic lean, having lost it by 10 percentage points in 2020. During the rally, Trump made several notable statements and campaign promises.

Trump challenged conventional wisdom about Republican prospects in New Mexico, suggesting that vote rigging was responsible for past losses and claiming that with fair vote counting, Republicans could win not only New Mexico but also traditionally Democratic strongholds like California.

The former president made several policy announcements, including plans to sign an executive order on his first day directing federal agencies to remove regulations affecting goods prices. He also proposed creating a new Cabinet position focused exclusively on reducing the cost of living.

In his characteristic style, Trump directed criticism at his political opponents, particularly targeting Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he described as "unqualified" and "exhausted." He also compared her unfavorably to Hillary Clinton and criticized President Biden and former President Obama's leadership abilities.

Trump made a specific appeal to Hispanic voters, conducting an impromptu poll about their preferred terminology (Hispanic versus Latino) and asserting strong support from the community. This outreach came in the wake of controversy following comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's controversial remarks about Puerto Rico at Trump's recent Madison Square Garden rally.

The rally included repeated claims about election integrity, with Trump continuing to make unsubstantiated assertions about fraudulent voting, similar to his claims following the 2020 election. The Harris campaign has responded by suggesting these statements are preparing ground for potential future election result disputes.