President Donald Trump returned to Georgia on Wednesday for a rally in Marietta, where he unleashed a blistering attack on Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, branding him “terrible” and comparing him to the comedic character Pee-Wee Herman. The president also warned the crowd about what he called “Democrat communists,” reviving a familiar midterm theme.
“Georgia is a state that believes in common sense, and yet your terrible senator Jon Ossoff is terrible,” Trump told supporters. He went on to claim that “Ossoff and the Democrat communists want to let the Marxists into power, bankrupt your families, and leave you totally undefended with wide open borders.” Trump added, “But we will not let that happen to our country.”
Ossoff, who is seeking reelection against Trump-backed Representative Mike Collins, has gained attention for his viral Senate speeches and aggressive questioning in hearings, sparking speculation about a potential 2028 presidential bid. Trump, however, dismissed Ossoff’s influence in Washington, saying he is not respected there.
The president also revisited his past involvement in Georgia politics, noting that he endorsed Ossoff’s opponent, Karen Handel, in the 2017 special election for Tom Price’s House seat. Trump claimed Ossoff was “easily winning” at the time but that he backed Handel because he thought “anybody would be better than this guy.” Handel won the runoff by more than 3 points. “He lost, but I have to hand it to him because instead of being a congressman, he later on became a senator,” Trump said, adding, “If he was a congressman, he probably wouldn’t have run. Who knows? Got to give him a little credit for that.”
Trump’s trip was officially billed as a way to discuss affordability, and he did tout his proposed “Trump Accounts” and other economic efforts. However, the event quickly turned to his favorite midterm attack line: warning that democratic socialists are threatening to bring communism to the United States. “Communism is a loser,” he declared. “The concept, the policy, it’s a loser, and it always has been, and it always will be. With communism, everything turns to s—.”
The president’s remarks come amid a backdrop of ongoing controversy over election security. His address to the nation last week on election fraud put Georgia Democrats on alert, prompting them to defend the state’s election systems. Trump’s previous efforts to overturn his 2020 loss in Georgia, including a phone call to Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger asking him to “find” votes, remain a sore point for Democrats.
For more on Trump’s approval ratings and the political landscape, see our recent piece on Trump’s sinking approval numbers. Additionally, the president’s focus on economic messaging, including his “Trump Accounts” proposal, was covered in our earlier report on his Georgia trip and affordability concerns.
Trump’s repeated comparisons of Ossoff to Pee-Wee Herman—initially flubbing the character’s name as “Pinky Herman”—underscored the personal nature of his attack. The president also boasted that he beat Ossoff in an election years ago because he was asked to get “involved.”
The rally highlighted the high stakes of the Georgia Senate race, which could determine control of the chamber. As Trump continues to campaign for allies and attack Democrats, the Peach State remains a key battleground for both parties.
