Trump Casts Midterm Ballot Early With Melania in Florida/ NEWSLOOKS/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ President Donald Trump voted early in Florida on Saturday, saying he supported Republicans across the ballot before a campaign rally in Georgia.He defended a controversial Ohio campaign advertisement and his administration’s lawsuit targeting Alaska’s Senate election certification.First lady Melania Trump joined him and left open the possibility of visiting Ukraine following her humanitarian ceasefire initiative.
Quick Look
- Early ballot: Trump voted at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office in West Palm Beach.
- Republican support: He confirmed that he voted along party lines.
- First lady present: Melania Trump accompanied the president to the polling location.
- Ohio controversy: Trump again defended Vivek Ramaswamy’s advertisement featuring Amy Acton’s estranged mother.
- Alaska lawsuit: He backed the administration’s challenge involving two Senate candidates with similar names.
- Iran remarks: Trump raised the possibility of further military action or a negotiated agreement.
- Florida endorsements: He supports Byron Donalds for governor and Ashley Moody for Senate.
Deep Look
Trump Casts Early Ballot in West Palm Beach
President Donald Trump voted early in Florida’s midterm elections Saturday, telling reporters he supported Republican candidates throughout the ballot before heading to a campaign rally in Georgia.
Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrived together at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office in West Palm Beach. The president had spent the morning at his nearby golf course.
Wearing an “I Voted” sticker, Trump was asked whether he had voted along party lines.
“Very much so,” he replied.
Trump has previously drawn criticism for voting by mail while repeatedly attacking that method of casting ballots.
President Again Defends Ramaswamy’s Ohio Advertisement
Speaking outside the polling location, Trump renewed his defense of an advertisement aired by Ohio Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy.
The advertisement features the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Dr. Amy Acton and has generated intense backlash.
Acton’s mother lost custody of her children after her husband, their stepfather, was indicted for raping Acton when she was 12.
Trump continued to support the advertisement despite the controversy surrounding its use of Acton’s family history.
Trump Backs Alaska Senate Certification Challenge
The president also defended instructing his administration to file a lawsuit seeking to block certification of Alaska’s Senate election if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses.
The challenge concerns the presence of another candidate with a similar name on the ballot.
The administration argues that the names could confuse voters, bringing federal intervention into a closely watched Senate contest.
Trump Leaves Open Further Action Against Iran
Asked about the war with Iran, Trump suggested that either additional military action or negotiations could determine its next phase.
“I may have to finish it off. Or maybe they’ll make a deal, but I’m not sure. Either way, we win,” he said.
His comments came as he continued campaigning for Republicans ahead of the Nov. 3 elections.
Melania Trump Leaves Ukraine Visit Undecided
Melania Trump was asked whether she might travel to Ukraine following her role in brokering a localized ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
The agreement concerns Oleshky, a devastated Ukrainian city under Russian occupation, and is intended to allow humanitarian aid deliveries and civilian evacuations.
“We will see,” she told reporters.
Florida Races Feature Trump-Endorsed Republicans
Trump has endorsed Republican Rep. Byron Donalds to succeed term-limited Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Donalds faces David Jolly, a former Republican who subsequently became an independent before joining the Democratic Party.
The president has also campaigned for Republican Sen. Ashley Moodywho is seeking to serve the remaining two years of Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s former Senate term.
Moody faces Democratic state lawmaker Angie Nixona progressive candidate.
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