Tags: trump | georgia | midterms | economy

Trump Georgia Trip to Focus on Economy as Midterms Loom

Thursday, 19 February 2026 02:20 PM EST

He is weighing military action against Iran, leading an aggressive immigration crackdown, and teasing a federal takeover of state elections.

But on Thursday, President Donald Trump's team insists he will focus on the economy when he visits battleground Georgia in a trip designed to help boost Republicans' political standing heading into the high-stakes midterm elections.

"Georgia is obviously a very important state to the president and to the Republican Party," said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on the eve of his visit. Trump's remarks in Georgia will highlight "his efforts to make life affordable for working people," she said.

Trump's destination in Georgia suggests he has something else on his mind, too. He's heading to a congressional district previously represented by Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former supporter who resigned in January after feuding with Trump. There's a special election to replace her on March 10.

The White House has long said Trump would focus more on the economy, and he frequently complains that he doesn't get enough credit for it. But recent months have been dominated by other issues, including deadly clashes during deportation efforts in Minneapolis.

As a reminder of his divided attention, Trump opened Thursday focusing on one of his passion projects. He joined representatives from some of the more than two dozen countries that have joined his Board of Peace.

Vice President JD Vance, in a nod to domestic politics heading into the midterm elections, tried to sell the Board of Peace as a win for the American people.

"The reason that we're here today is yes to save lives and yes to promote peace, but this creates incredible prosperity for the American people," Vance said Thursday morning, suggesting that the countries represented on the board represent "trillions of dollars of investment" in the U.S.

The Georgia visit comes less than a month after federal agents seized voting records and ballots from Fulton County, home to the state's largest concentration of Democrats.

Some Republicans are now pushing for Georgia's State Election Board, which has a Trump-aligned majority, to take control of elections in Fulton County — a step enabled by a controversial state law passed in 2021. But it's unclear if or when the board will act.

Leavitt, in the White House, said Wednesday that Trump was "exploring his options" when it comes to a potential executive order he teased on social media over the weekend designed to address voter fraud.

Trump described Democrats as "horrible, disingenuous CHEATERS" in the post, which is pinned to the top of his social media account. He also said that Republicans should feature such claims "at the top of every speech."

Leavitt, meanwhile, insisted Trump would be focusing on affordability and the economy.

Trump may be distracted by fresh attacks from Greene, once among the president's most vocal allies in Congress and now one of his loudest conservative critics.

In a social media post ahead of Trump's visit, Greene noted that the White House and Republican leaders met earlier in the week to develop an effective midterm message. She suggested they were "on the struggle bus" and blamed them for health insurance costs that ballooned this year.

"Approximately 75,000 households in my former district had their health insurance double or more on January 1st of this year because the ACA tax credits expired and Republicans have absolutely failed to fix our health insurance system that was destroyed by Obamacare," she said. "And you can call me all the petty names you want, I don't worship a man. I'm not in a cult."

Early voting has already begun in the special election to replace Greene, and the leading Republican candidates have fully embraced Trump.

Trump recently endorsed Clay Fuller, a district attorney who prosecutes crimes in four counties. Fuller described Trump's endorsement as "rocket fuel" for his candidacy in a weekend interview and vowed to maintain an America First agenda even if he remains in Congress after Trump is no longer president.

Other candidates include former Republican state Sen. Colton Moore, who made a name for himself with a vociferous attack on Trump's prosecution in Georgia. Moore, the favorite of many far-right activists, said he's been in communication with Trump even after Trump endorsed Fuller, calling the choice "unfortunate."

"I think he's the greatest president of our lifetimes," Moore said.

The top Democrat in the race is Shawn Harris, who unsuccessfully ran against Greene in 2024. Democrats voice hope for an upset, but the district is rated as the most Republican district in Georgia by the Cook Political Report.

Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.


US
When he visits battleground Georgia in a trip designed to help boost Republicans' political standing heading into the high-stakes midterm elections, President Donald Trump's team insists he will focus on the economy.
trump, georgia, midterms, economy
757
2026-20-19
Thursday, 19 February 2026 02:20 PM
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