News · Port Huron
Trump’s Port Huron rally in photos: A packed McMorran Place, a Nicki Minaj surprise and a closing pitch for Rogers and James
PORT HURON, Mich. — President Donald Trump packed McMorran Place on Sunday, Oct. 25, filling the downtown arena and its overflow theater for a midterm rally that put Port Huron in the national spotlight and gave Michigan Republicans a loud send-off into the final stretch before the Nov. 3 election.
It was the first time a sitting president has visited Port Huron and St. Clair County, MLive reported. The Mitten Daily was inside the arena, and the photos on this page are our own. Our earlier coverage of why Trump chose Port Huron and what to know before Sunday has more background.
A full house early. Doors opened at 11:30 a.m., according to the official event page. Port Huron Fire Marshal Jackie Martin said the arena was full by 2:30 p.m., and later arrivals were sent to the McMorran theater for overflow seating, which General Manager Aaron Sexton said was also full by 3:30 p.m., the Hillsdale Daily News reported. Trump spoke for about an hour and 45 minutes.
The pitch: Rogers and James. Trump came with a clear goal: to help Republican Mike Rogers win Michigan’s open U.S. Senate seat and John James win the governor’s race. Both joined him on stage. “I call him Apple Pie,” Trump said of Rogers, a former congressman. “He’s like perfect, this guy. He’s like central casting. He’s what your state is all about,” according to MLive.
Before Trump spoke, a lineup of Republicans warmed up the crowd, including Michigan House Speaker Matt Hall, U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, congressional candidate Mike Bouchard and James. “We have to turn out in record numbers (to) vote,” Hall said, MLive reported. David Beamer, whose son Todd Beamer was aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001, also addressed the crowd, according to the Hillsdale Daily News.
The economy and a $5,000 promise. Trump ranged across gas prices, immigration, Iran, trade with Canada and Christmas. He promised that every adult U.S. citizen would get $5,000 if Republicans win both the House and Senate. “If Republicans win, you’ll each have $5,000 in your pocket,” he said, according to MLive.
Sharp words for the Democrats. Trump spent much of the speech attacking Rogers’ opponent, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed. “Michigan does not need a senator who’s on the side of terrorists,” Trump said, according to MLive, which reported that he repeatedly called El-Sayed a “jihadist.” El-Sayed, a former public health administrator, has said he has never been part of the Muslim Brotherhood, as Rogers has alleged, and called the accusation “really quite beneath” his opponent. Trump also went after Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, warning supporters about “cheating vote-counters.” Benson answered in a statement Sunday night that “Michigan citizens will have the final say on November 3rd,” MLive reported.
The Nicki Minaj surprise. Rapper Nicki Minaj, called up by Trump from the crowd with an off-color compliment on her figure that drew national headlines, took the microphone and led chants for Rogers and James. “Since he’s come back, he’s changed the energy of our country,” Minaj said. “He’s given us a future to look forward to.” She added, “Michigan, God bless you. We really need all these great people to be elected,” according to MLive.
What the crowd took away. Rallygoers interviewed by the Hillsdale Daily News said they left energized. “I thought he pretty much hammered it,” said Michael Rush, 22, of Royal Oak. St. Clair County Commissioner Dave Rushing put it simply: “It rallied the base.” Ken Reed, 54, of Kimball Township, said the day stayed calm. “I was surprised that even everybody was as good mannered as they were,” Reed said. “Even the protesters were in good spirits.” Police escorted one disruptive woman out of the arena within minutes of Trump taking the stage, MLive reported.
What comes next. Rogers and El-Sayed are in a tight Senate race, MLive reported, and the rally came a day after former President Barack Obama campaigned for Democrats in Detroit. Early voting began Saturday, Oct. 24. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can check their registration, see a sample ballot and find their polling place at the Michigan Voter Information Center, https://www.michigan.gov/vote.
Sources:
MLive, Bradley Massman, “$5,000 checks, political attacks and winding remarks: Takeaways from Trump’s Michigan rally,” Oct. 25, 2026, updated Oct. 26 (first sitting president, $5,000 quote, El-Sayed and Benson remarks, Benson statement, disruptive attendee), https://www.mlive.com/politics/2026/10/5000-checks-political-attacks-and-winding-remarks-takeaways-from-trumps-michigan-rally.html
MLive, Bradley Massman, “Nicki Minaj joins Trump in Port Huron, urges Michigan voters to back Republicans,” Oct. 25, 2026 (Minaj quotes, chants), https://www.mlive.com/politics/2026/10/nicki-minaj-joins-trump-in-port-huron-urges-michigan-voters-to-back-republicans.html
MLive, Jackie Smith, “Trump attacks El-Sayed as extremist in Port Huron rally, calls Rogers perfect ‘apple pie’,” Oct. 25, 2026, updated Oct. 26 (Rogers quote, El-Sayed response), https://www.mlive.com/politics/2026/10/trump-attacks-el-sayed-as-extremist-in-port-huron-rally-calls-rogers-perfect-apple-pie.html
MLive, “Republicans target El-Sayed as Trump rally fires up Michigan voters in Port Huron,” Oct. 25, 2026 (warm-up speakers, Hall quote, Obama rally), https://www.mlive.com/politics/2026/10/republicans-target-el-sayed-as-trump-rally-fires-up-michigan-voters-in-port-huron.html
Hillsdale Daily News (USA Today Network), “Humor, energy, surprises stand out at Trump’s Port Huron rally,” Oct. 25, 2026 (arena and theater capacity, speech length, Beamer, rallygoer quotes, early voting and poll hours), https://www.hillsdale.net/story/news/local/2026/10/25/trump-rallygoers-applaud-speech-surprise-guests-in-port-huron/92436508007/
BBC News, “Nicki Minaj joins Trump onstage at Michigan rally,” Oct. 25, 2026 (how Minaj was called on stage), https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqrmyl1mljppo
GOP.com event page, “Midterm Rally in Port Huron, Michigan featuring President Donald J. Trump” (doors 11:30 a.m.), https://events.gop.com/events/midterm-rally-in-st-clair-mi-president-donald-j-trump-djt47
Photos: The Mitten Daily
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