Trump Announces Alaska Gas Investment Claims, Broadband Plans at Sullivan Rally/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ President Donald Trump campaigned in Alaska Tuesday to support Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan against Democratic challenger Mary Peltola. He announced proposed energy and broadband developments, including a claimed Taiwanese investment that had not received immediate confirmation. The visit underscored Republican concerns about a competitive Senate race shaped by affordability, ranked choice voting and trade tensions with Canada.
Quick Look
- Campaign stop: Trump headlined a rally in Wasilla after an eight-hour flight.
- Senate matchup: Sullivan is seeking a third term against former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola.
- Gas project claim: Trump said Taiwan would purchase gas and invest more than $4 billion; Taiwan did not immediately confirm.
- Broadband proposal: Trump said the FCC would vote on an additional $162 million for high-speed internet access.
- Other announcements: He announced two pardons and endorsed gubernatorial candidate Bernadette Wilson.
- Voting complications: Two candidates named Dan Sullivan appear on the Senate ballot.
- Economic concerns: Inflation, fuel prices and the Canada trade dispute remain significant issues.
Deep Look
Trump Travels to Alaska to Bolster Sullivan’s Senate Campaign
WASILLA, Alaska — President Donald Trump traveled to Alaska Tuesday to support Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan, making an unusually lengthy campaign journey with the Nov. 3 midterm elections approaching.
Trump headlined a rally in Wasilla, approximately 45 miles north of Anchorage, as Republicans worked to protect their congressional majorities.
The city is known as Sarah Palin’s hometown and the headquarters of the Iditarod sled dog race.
Trump told the crowd he had flown eight hours to support Sullivan, whom he described as “one of the best and most respected senators in D.C.”
Sullivan is seeking a third term against Mary Peltola, a former Democratic congresswoman campaigning on affordability and an “Alaska first” message.
The Alaska appearance is part of a western swing that also includes Wednesday rallies in Arizona and Montana.
Trump Announces Taiwan Gas Investment Without Immediate Confirmation
During the rally, Trump said Taiwan would purchase natural gas from a proposed Alaska megaproject and invest more than $4 billion.
Taiwan, the self-governing island claimed by China, did not immediately confirm the announcement. The White House also did not provide additional details.
Versions of the gas project have been discussed in Alaska for decades.
Sullivan previously joined Trump in the Oval Office when the president announced a $54 billion South Korean government investment in the project.
South Korea has said that agreement and its total value have not been finalized.
Broadband Funding Vote and Environmental Pardons Announced
Trump said the Federal Communications Commission would vote in the coming weeks on investing an additional $162 million to expand high-speed internet access in Alaska.
He also announced pardons for two men who pleaded guilty in 2022 to Clean Air Act violations involving tampering with federally required monitoring devices on certain vehicles.
The announcements accompanied his effort to highlight benefits of his administration’s policies for Alaska.
Economic Frustration Creates Opening for Democrats
Alaska last elected a Democratic senator in 2008 and has not elected a Democratic governor since 1998.
The state’s only Democratic presidential vote came during Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 landslide.
Nevertheless, high gasoline prices linked to the Iran war and persistent inflation have weakened Trump’s approval ratings, encouraging Democrats to pursue an upset.
Pollster Ivan Moore said declining support for Trump in Alaska mirrors the national trend.
He suggested the Senate race could turn on voters who supported Trump in 2024 but are now reconsidering that support.
“The visit is certainly appropriate. Whether the visit will be effective or not is another matter,” Moore said.
He added that he initially doubted Trump would follow through with the trip.
Trump and Vance Repeatedly Support Alaska Republicans
The administration has prioritized expanding oil and gas drilling in Alaska.
Vice President JD Vance campaigned last week in Fairbanks for Sullivan and Republican Rep. Nick Begich.
Trump’s trip across four time zones represented his strongest personal intervention for Sullivan, who has remained a vocal supporter of the president’s Iran and tariff policies.
That stance contrasts with some Republicans in difficult races elsewhere who have begun distancing themselves from Trump.
Previous Alaska Visit Failed to Defeat Murkowski
Alaska has approximately 740,000 residents, making it slightly less populous than Denver and the third-smallest state by population.
Trump also held a rally in Anchorage in 2022, seeking to defeat Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
Murkowski had voted to convict him during his second impeachment trial after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Trump endorsed challenger Kelly Tshibaka, but Murkowski won reelection.
Rally Attendee Looks for Answers on Prices and Gas Development
Waiting outside the Wasilla rally, Max Christensen said he hoped Trump would provide more details about the natural gas project.
He was “really curious just to see how he’s going to handle things like inflation and gas prices and things like that.”
Christensen, 22, said he regarded Trump as a strong president “despite all his flaws and stuff.”
“I think he really does genuinely care about the people of the United States of America,” he added.
Two Dan Sullivans Appear on Ranked Choice Ballot
Alaska uses an open primary in which the four leading candidates advance regardless of party. Its general election uses ranked choice voting.
The Senate ballot includes both Sen. Dan Sullivan and retired teacher Dan J. Sullivan.
Trump and the senator’s allies have called the retired teacher a sham candidate, an accusation Dan J. Sullivan denies.
“They found a guy named Dan Sullivan, they put him up to get things a little confused,” Trump said at the rally.
He repeatedly urged supporters to vote for “the real Dan Sullivan.”
Trump Supports Begich and Endorses Bernadette Wilson
Trump also promoted Begich, who faces a competitive House challenge from independent Bill Hill.
Alaska has historically rewarded candidates with an independent streak, a point Vance acknowledged during his Fairbanks visit.
“In very deep red years, Alaska is competitive. In very deep blue years, Alaska is still competitive,” Vance said. “I think it’s just a reality of the politics of the state.”
Trump questioned why three Republicans were competing against a Democrat for governor and endorsed Bernadette Wilson.
Wilson finished third overall in the August primary but received the most votes among Republicans.
State GOP leaders, including outgoing Gov. Mike Dunleavyhave urged voters to rank Republican candidates. Many Republicans view that strategy as essential to winning the governor’s race despite their objections to ranked choice voting.
Canada Trade Dispute Could Raise Alaska Consumer Costs
Trump’s trade conflict with Canada presents another issue for Alaskawhich shares a border exceeding 1,500 miles with its northern neighbor.
Canada is among the state’s most important trading partners.
The United States banned nearly $1 billion in Canadian imports, including alcoholic beverages, dairy products and motorcycles, after imposing 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion in Canadian goods.
Canada responded with reciprocal bans and import levies.
The dispute could increase costs for Alaska consumers.
Moore said treating Canada as an adversary is “discomforting” for many residents.
“We associate, I think, probably more closely with the Canadians — more than a lot of the Lower 48,” he said.
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