President Donald Trump returned to Dalton, Georgia, on October 16, 2026, to campaign for Republican congressional candidates, using the stage to attack Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff over his appearance and repeat debunked claims regarding the 2020 election as early voting proceeded statewide.
Speaking inside a hangar at the Dalton Municipal Airport, Donald Trump addressed a crowd of roughly 1,200 supporters during an afternoon rally held amid temperatures reaching 85 degrees under unusual October heat. The event brought together the state’s top Republican midterm candidates, including congressional representative and Senate nominee Mike Collins and gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson, as well as former Georgia football star Todd Gurley, who arrived with Trump aboard Air Force One at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in nearby Marietta.
Trump Targets Jon Ossoff’s Appearance and Reruns 2020 Claims
Much of the president’s address focused on attacking the incumbent Democratic senator, Jon Ossoff, whom Trump is seeking to unseat by backing Collins in the November midterm elections. Trump also claimed that American voters would receive a $5,000 government check if Republicans hold the U.S. House of Representatives, asserting that $21 trillion in foreign manufacturing investments pledged during his watch would cover the trillion-dollar price tag, though most of those pledges remain unfulfilled. He also spoke on immigration and Laken Riley, a 22-year-old student at Augusta University in Georgia who was murdered in February 2024, leading to the Laken Riley Act, and claimed the war in Iran will be over very, very soon while reiterating that they will never have a nuclear weapon.
President Trump Trolls Senator Jon Ossoff with Classic Pee-wee Herman Vibes — (Video: AI)Donald J. Trump just dropped a hilarious late-night meme comparing Jon Ossoff to Pee-wee Herman — I made this AI clip to take the trolling to the next level! 😂The internet is loving it… pic.twitter.com/laE2FLrFZH
Trump also disparaged Ossoff’s physical appearance while praising his Republican challenger, offering personal commentary on the stage before the packed grandstands.
I don’t think Ossoff is a good-looking man. I actually think Mike Collins is a good-looking man. He’s all man; I’m not sure about Ossoff.
Photo: Local 3 News
Donald Trump, U.S. President
Continuing the line of criticism, Trump compared the senator to a television character while urging attendees to rally behind Collins.
I call him Pee-wee Herman. Pee-wee Herman! Looks like Pee-wee. His name is Jon Ossoff.
Donald Trump, U.S. President
Collins himself stepped up to the podium to criticize Ossoff’s platform and background, telling the audience that his opponent resembled an establishment product tied to national Democratic figures. Collins also launched attacks on Ossoff’s wealth and career history, calling him a trust fund kid who never held a real job. Additional figures spoke at the event, including state Senate Treasurer Brandon Beach, Georgia Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner John King, National Border Patrol Council President Paul Perez, Republican attorney general candidate Brian Strickland, and Republican lieutenant governor candidate Greg Dolezal.
John Ossoff, he ain’t nothing but a test tube Democrat.
Mike Collins, U.S. Representative and Senate Candidate
Protesters Interrupted by Security and Crowd Reactions in Dalton
The afternoon program saw a brief disruption when two protesters unfurled an anti-ICE banner inside the hangar during the presidential address. Security personnel escorted the individuals out promptly as audience members drowned out the demonstration by chanting “USA” and booing.
Photo: Georgia Recorder
Trump claimed without evidence that the demonstrators had received financial compensation to disrupt the event while offering a lighthearted jab about the incident.
Rick Jackson is a very handsome, distinguished, beautiful-looking guy.
Donald Trump, U.S. President
Outside the airport grounds, several dozen additional demonstrators gathered along East Walnut Avenue to protest while attendees arrived for the midterms rally. Meanwhile, supporters like Tracy Spencer of Chattanooga, Tennessee, awaited the president’s arrival and praised him as the greatest president of all time.
Polling and Prediction Markets Contrast With Republican Strategy
The rally arrived at a time when early voting is already underway across Georgia, with roughly 700,000 ballots cast as of Friday following the start of the voting period on Monday on October 13. Although Trump urged supporters to act as if he were personally on the ballot to drive turnout for the November 3 general election, polling numbers and prediction platforms show a challenging race for Collins.
Sen. Ossoff: Donald Trump is trying to "reheat debunked conspiracy theories" about the 2020 election
Most recent public surveys show Ossoff maintaining a secure lead over his Republican opponent. A poll conducted by the right-leaning Trafalgar Group placed Ossoff at 51 percent compared to 43 percent for Collins, with 5.9 percent undecided based on surveys taken between October 7 and 9. RealClearPolling data recorded an average 8.1 percent advantage for the incumbent senator over the same period.
Photo: FOX 5 Atlanta
Analytic ratings and prediction markets reflect similar shifts. Major forecasters such as the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball moved the contest from leaning Democratic to a likely Democratic hold in late September. Financial prediction platforms showed even wider margins by mid-October, with Kalshi assigning Ossoff a 95.1 percent probability of winning and Polymarket putting his chances at 96.1 percent following months of market movement.
