Donald Trump To Hold Rallies in Blue States GOP Has Not Won in Decades

Former president Donald Trump will hold rallies in California and Colorado, two deep blue states that have not been won by Republicans in decades.

California, often seen as America’s most liberal state, has consistently voted for Democratic candidates since 1988, the last time a Republican won the Golden State (George H.W. Bush). Likewise, Colorado has not voted Republican since George W. Bush defeated John Kerry in 2004.

But, despite neither of these states appearing to be up for grabs in the upcoming election, Trump announced on Monday that he would hold rallies in Aurora, Colorado, on Friday and Coachella, California, on Saturday.

Dr. Thomas Gift, Associate Professor of Political Science at University College London’s School of Public Policy, said the decision will likely be for “symbolism” rather than Trump having “any illusions of competing.”

He told Newsweek: “California gives Trump a perfect platform to highlight what he routinely pillories as the failures of Democratic governance.

“By showing up, he can lambaste the Golden State as the poster child for all the ills that he says are ailing America: overbearing taxes and regulations, out-of-control immigration, spiking crime and skyrocketing costs of living.”

“Not to mention, it gives Trump another excuse to use the phrase ‘San Francisco liberal’ in attacking Kamala Harris,” Gift added.

Indeed, Trump’s Communications Director Steven Cheung told Newsweek: “Kamala Harris did unthinkable damage to California during her six years as the most liberal attorney general in state history and she has done even more damage to our country as vice president.

“President Trump’s trip to Coachella will highlight Harris’ failing record and show that he has the right solutions to save every state and every American.”

Newsweek has contacted the Harris campaign, via email, for a response.

Trump has frequently criticized how California is run, namely its higher taxes and LGBTQIA+ and immigration policies.

Last month, when Trump held a press conference at his southern California golf course, he criticized Harris, who was Attorney General of California from 2011 to 2017, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.

“It’s very sad when I have to stand out here on my property and say how bad California is,” Trump said.

Going to Colorado will seemingly provide the same opportunity to criticize Democratic leadership, with his press release about the rally calling Aurora a “war zone due to the influx of violent Venezuelan prison gang members from Tren de Aragua.”

The notorious Tren de Aragua gang was recently thrust to the forefront of the national conversation surrounding immigration after footage emerged of armed gang members at an apartment complex in Aurora.

Police are currently investigating links between the gang and the two illegal immigrants, Johan Jose Martinez-Rangel and Franklin Jose Peña Ramos, who have been charged with the murder of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray, whose body was found in a Houston creek on June 17, after she had been sexually assaulted and strangled to death.

Trump’s rally announcement said: “Kamala’s border bloodbath has made every state a border state, leaving Colorado families at the mercy of criminals. The only solution to stop the border crisis is to elect President Trump, who will secure the border, deport dangerous criminals, and Make America Safe Again.”