Donald Trump expressed his gratitude to Arizona for delivering a significant victory during his return journey to the White House. In his first visit as the president-elect, he took the opportunity to deliver a triumphant speech on Sunday morning.
“You were absolutely amazing. I just want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your incredible victory,” Trump praised. “It was no small achievement, but you made it happen.”
In his comprehensive speech at the Phoenix Convention Center, the incoming president discussed various topics, including the possibility of sparing the Chinese social media platform TikTok from an impending ban in the U.S. Additionally, he expressed the notion of the United States reclaiming the Panama Canal. Moreover, he made an early endorsement in Arizona’s 2026 gubernatorial race.
On the last day of AmericaFest, a yearly convention organized by Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action, Trump addressed the audience. These conservative groups, based in Arizona, played a crucial role in mobilizing Trump supporters during the 2024 election and attracting young individuals to the Republican Party.
In a recent speech, President Trump commended Charlie Kirk, the President of Turning Point, for his impressive success in attracting young voters during the recent election. Moreover, Trump expressed his willingness to explore the possibility of rescuing TikTok, a widely popular social media platform, from the potential ban imposed by the United States.
In early January, the Supreme Court will hear TikTok’s challenge to a new rule passed by Congress. The rule requires the company to be sold or face a ban in the U.S.
“I need to start considering TikTok,” Trump declared. “Perhaps we should keep this platform around.”
Steve Bannon Criticizes House Speaker, Tucker Carlson Suggests GOP Primary Challenges in Arizona Politics
The president-elect expressed apprehensions regarding Chinese influence on the Panama Canal, a critical waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In the early 1900s, the United States assumed responsibility for constructing the canal and maintained control over it for several decades. However, during former President Jimmy Carter’s tenure, the canal was handed over to Panama.
“We are being taken advantage of at the Panama Canal,” Trump exclaimed. “If the principles, both morally and legally, of this generous act of giving are not upheld, then we will insist on the Panama Canal being returned to the United States of America in its entirety, promptly and without any hesitation.”
During his presidency, Trump made a promise to change the name of the highest peak in North America back to “Mount McKinley” from its current name, “Denali.” This mountain in Alaska had been renamed during the Obama administration, and the issue of its name has been a subject of debate for over a century.
In his second term, Trump has promised to impose significant tariffs, citing McKinley as a supporter of such measures. Trump also drew attention to the fact that McKinley was assassinated, while noting his own survival of two assassination attempts this year.
According to Trump, McKinley was not only a good president but possibly a great one. He points out that McKinley’s name was removed from Mount McKinley, which he believes is a common occurrence for accomplished individuals. Trump acknowledges McKinley’s contribution to the United States by creating a significant amount of wealth, which was later utilized by Teddy Roosevelt. Trump believes that both presidents were excellent, but McKinley’s achievement is a compelling reason to reinstate the name of Mount McKinley in his honor.
In 2015, Alaska Native peoples restored the traditional name of the mountain, renaming it Denali.
During the event on Sunday, there were some attendees who were unaware of the recent name change of the mountain. William Dunston, a 56-year-old Realtor from Monterey California, expressed his disagreement with altering the names of significant landmarks.
“We must always remember our country’s history, whether it be the good or the bad,” expressed Dunston.
Trump backs Robson in anticipated gubernatorial bid
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Despite the recent conclusion of the 2024 election, Trump wasted no time in expressing his eagerness to participate in the political landscape of 2026. He actively encouraged Karrin Taylor Robson, a Republican, to run for the position of Arizona governor in the upcoming race, ensuring her of his full support. Additionally, the president-elect endorsed Gina Swoboda, the current Arizona Republican Party Chair, for her reelection.
“Karrin, do you have plans to run for governor? I believe you do, Karrin,” Trump stated. “If you decide to pursue this path, you can count on my support.”
Robson was defeated in the Republican primary for Arizona governor by Kari Lake, who had the backing of Trump, in 2022. However, Lake went on to lose to Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs. Despite Trump’s endorsement, Robson was unsuccessful again in the recent elections, losing to Democratic Senator-elect Ruben Gallego. Interestingly, the president-elect has recently chosen Lake to lead Voice of America during his second term.
“I feel incredibly honored to receive his support,” expressed Robson in a heartfelt social media post. “Mr. President, I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your unwavering dedication to our nation and the remarkable state of Arizona.”
In his first visit to Arizona since his victory in the presidential election, President Trump delivered a speech on Sunday morning. It was a triumphant return for Trump, as he had won the state by over 5 percentage points in the 2024 election, a remarkable turnaround following his narrow loss to President Joe Biden four years ago.
“We were able to carry the great state of Arizona, which is not typically an easy feat for a Republican,” stated Trump confidently.
Arizona has predominantly supported Republican candidates in the majority of presidential elections since the 1940s. There were only two exceptions to this trend, when the state voted for former President Bill Clinton in 1996 and President Joe Biden in 2020.
During his AmericaFest speech on Sunday, Trump continued to contest the 2020 election results, reiterating false claims that he had won by a significant margin, despite losing by a narrow margin of just over 10,000 votes. This comes after one of Turning Point’s key staff members was indicted for their alleged involvement in the fake elector case in Arizona.
Trump and his border czar double down on deportations
In his speech, Trump declared his commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises. He emphasized that he would take immediate action once he assumes office on January 20th, starting with a comprehensive crackdown on immigration.
“On my return to the Oval Office, I will take decisive action by signing a groundbreaking set of executive orders to secure our borders and put an end to the influx of illegal immigrants into our nation,” declared Trump. He further emphasized, “Simultaneously, we will initiate a deportation operation of unprecedented scale, surpassing even the efforts of President Dwight D. Eisenhower.”
The conservative gathering, which spanned four days, showcased prominent figures from the GOP including Donald Trump Jr., Tucker Carlson, Ted Cruz, and Tom Homan, who will be taking on the role of “border czar.”
During his Sunday morning remarks, Homan expressed his admiration for the president’s commitment to border security. He emphasized his plan to ramp up deportations, stating, “We’re determined to overcome any obstacles that come our way.”
Rachel McGill, a resident of Surprise, expressed her excitement at the opportunity to hear Trump speak live. She described the experience as “amazing.”
“He spoke about a lot of things. But what really struck a chord with me and what I found most appealing was his stance on border security. He emphasized the need to close and secure our borders. Considering the current policies in America, it’s crucial that we don’t have open borders where anything can freely pass through without any benefit to us. Trump’s efforts to put a stop to this are commendable,” McGill commented.
McGill had been a loyal member of the Democratic party for a long time, but he decided to leave after the tenure of President Barack Obama.
“I used to identify as a Democrat for a significant period of time. However, after Obama’s presidency, I became disillusioned. It felt like there was a lot of manipulation of information and broken promises. So, when Trump first came into power, I was excited and hopeful. And now, with his return, I am once again filled with anticipation.”
Over the past four years, Arizona has witnessed a significant decline in the number of registered Democrats who have chosen to disaffiliate from their party. This phenomenon played a crucial role in President Trump’s victory in the state during the recent election.
Trump’s Turning Point appearance coincides with his ongoing policy battles during his second term, including upcoming Cabinet confirmation fights.
Turning Point adorned the convention hall with banners bearing the message “GIVE TRUMP HIS CABINET.” Trump expressed his admiration for several nominees, including Tulsi Gabbard, his pick for director of national intelligence, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nominee for Health and Human Services, Kash Patel, the nominee for FBI Director, and Pete Hegseth, whom Trump chose to lead the Department of Defense.
“We’re receiving incredible feedback about the individuals we selected. It’s ‘we selected’ because I wouldn’t have chosen them if I didn’t believe you liked them,” Trump informed the audience. “You genuinely appreciate each and every one of them.”
Jennifer Meyers, a 29-year-old business owner from Scottsdale, had a transformative experience at the AmericaFest event. Over the course of four days, she seized the opportunity to network, promote her Earth Sugar energy bar company, and acquire knowledge. It is worth noting that Meyers had been supporting Democrats for eight years before her political allegiance shifted towards the GOP. One of the pivotal factors that influenced her decision to vote for Trump was Kennedy’s endorsement of the former president.
Meyers expressed his belief that RFK Jr. would take a stronger stance in holding Big Pharma accountable.