During the interview, WINK News spoke with Trump about the cost of living, the midterm elections and war with Iran.<\/p>\n
Among those who spoke before Trump\u2019s remarks were Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, U.S. Sens. Rick Scott and Ashley Moody, U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Jim Schwartzel, a Republican running for Florida\u2019s 19th Congressional District.<\/p>\n
Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds<\/a> also addressed the crowd.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s visit drew crowds to Alico Arena, where attendees gathered ahead of the rally. His motorcade arrived at Florida Gulf Coast University in the afternoon, and he departed Southwest Florida International Airport later that day after the event.<\/p>\n The rally came as candidates made their final push ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.<\/p>\n As it happened: Key moments from Trump’s Fort Myers visit<\/p>\n 4:57 p.m. \u2014 Air Force One departs RSW: President Donald Trump\u2019s plane has departed Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) following his rally in Fort Myers.<\/p>\n Stay with WINK News for further coverage recapping the president’s visit.<\/p>\n 4:22 p.m. \u2014 Trump ends speech at Alico Arena: Trump has concluded his speech at the Byron Donalds campaign event, where he addressed political rivals, the Florida seafood industry and the economy among other topics.<\/p>\n 4:06 p.m. \u2014 Byron Donalds takes the stage at FGCU: Donalds took the stage at Alico Arena during Trump’s speech.<\/p>\n Byron Donalds at Alico Arena<\/p>\n 3:55 p.m. \u2014 RFK Jr. announces \u2018Made in America\u2019 label for seafood:\u00a0U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced plans for a \u201cMade in America\u201d label for American seafood during President Donald Trump\u2019s rally.<\/p>\n 3:17 p.m. \u2014 Trump calls for removal of Ilhan Omar: Trump has called for the removal of Rep. Ilhan Omar from Congress following an FBI probe<\/a>.<\/p>\n 3:15 p.m. \u2014 Trump criticizes Jolly while referencing Fort Myers murder case: President Donald Trump criticized Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly during his rally in Southwest Florida on Friday, accusing Jolly of wanting to protect people like Robert Joachin, a Haitian national accused of killing two women in Fort Myers. WINK News has reached out to Jolly\u2019s campaign for comment.<\/p>\n 2:45 p.m. \u2014 Trump speaks exclusively with WINK News’ Claire Galt: During the interview, WINK News asked Trump about affordability, Republican control of Congress, congressional redistricting and immigration enforcement.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n During the interview, WINK News spoke with Trump about the cost of living, the midterm elections and war with Iran.<\/p>\n
2:20 p.m. \u2014 Trump’s motorcade arrives at FGCU:\u00a0The president\u2019s motorcade has arrived on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus and is making its way toward Alico Arena, where he is scheduled to speak at a campaign rally.<\/p>\n 1:55 p.m. \u2014 Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis speak with the media:\u00a0Trump and DeSantis spoke with the media after he landed at RSW on Friday. They both headed to FGCU for the campaign rally.\u00a0<\/p>\n 1:45 p.m. \u2014 Trump administration officials take the stage:\u00a0Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have taken the stage at Alico Arena ahead of President Trump\u2019s remarks.<\/p>\n 1:35 p.m. \u2014Trump arrives in Southwest Florida: President Donald Trump has landed at Southwest Florida International Airport. Watch live coverage above.<\/p>\n 1:20 p.m. \u2014 Byron Donalds takes the stage: Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds has taken the stage at Alico Arena ahead of Trump’s scheduled remarks.<\/p>\n 1:09 p.m.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Florida officials speak ahead of Trump\u2019s arrival:\u00a0Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, a Republican candidate seeking election to the Senate, spoke at Alico Arena ahead of President Donald Trump\u2019s arrival.<\/p>\n 12:45 p.m.\u00a0\u2014\u00a0Florida political candidates speak ahead of Trump\u2019s arrival:\u00a0Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, who represents Florida\u2019s 17th Congressional District; Jim Schwartzel, a Republican running for Florida\u2019s 19th Congressional District; and incumbent Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson spoke on stage ahead of President Donald Trump\u2019s arrival.\u00a0<\/p>\n Evan Power, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, was also in attendance.<\/p>\n 11:45 a.m.\u00a0\u2014 Trump departs White House: Trump has departed the White House on Air Force One and is expected to land in Fort Myers at around 2 p.m.<\/p>\n 11:00 a.m.\u00a0\u2014 Trump takes questions from reporters before trip:\u00a0The President took questions from reporters on the White House lawn before departing for Southwest Florida.<\/p>\n 10:30 a.m. \u2014\u00a0Doors open at Alico Arena:\u00a0Doors have opened at FGCU’s Alico Arena ahead of President Donald Trump\u2019s scheduled campaign rally in Fort Myers.<\/p>\n 10:00 a.m. \u2014 Crowds gather outside Alico Arena:\u00a0People lined up outside the arena ahead of the rally.<\/p>\n Original reporting<\/p>\n SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (WINK) \u2014\u00a0President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Fort Myers on Friday for a campaign rally supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds<\/a>, bringing a high-profile political event to Southwest Florida less than two weeks before Election Day.<\/p>\n The rally is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Alico Arena on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University. Doors are scheduled to open at 10:30 a.m.<\/p>\n Check back on this page for live coverage of the president’s visit.<\/p>\n WINK News will have reporters covering the presidential visit and the key issues driving the midterm elections<\/a>, including the high-profile race for Florida governor between Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly.<\/p>\n Why Trump is coming to Southwest Florida<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s visit comes as Republicans work to maintain political momentum ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections<\/a>. The president has been campaigning for Republican candidates around the country, making his appearance in Fort Myers part of the party\u2019s final stretch of campaigning before voters head to the polls.<\/p>\n Trump campaigned in Greenville, North Carolina, earlier this week, appearing alongside Republican candidates in a state with competitive congressional races.<\/p>\n RELATED: Why Fort Myers? The politics behind President Trump’s Southwest Florida rally<\/a><\/p>\n In Florida, the rally puts a national spotlight on the race for governor, where Donalds, a Republican congressman backed by Trump, is facing Democrat David Jolly.<\/p>\n Byron Donalds (pictured on the left) and David Jolly (pictured on the right)<\/p>\n Jolly campaigned with former President Bill Clinton<\/a> in South Florida earlier this week. Clinton encouraged voters to give Jolly a chance, while casting Donalds as an ally of Trump. The Democratic Governors Association also announced a $1 million investment in Jolly\u2019s campaign, according to the Associated Press.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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