Former President Donald Trump campaigned in Texas on Friday in the final stretch of the 2024 presidential race.
Trump held a press conference in Austin to highlight border security before taping a podcast with Joe Rogan.
His appearance in the historically red state comes as Vice President Kamala Harris was also set to campaign in Texas to highlight abortion and utilize singer Beyoncé to get out the vote.
Trump continued to criticize his Democrat rival and accused the Biden–Harris administration for the “invasion” at the southern border. His press conference also featured the mother of 12-year-old Jocelyn Nungaray who was killed by an illegal immigrant.
On the campaign trail, Harris has often blamed Trump for blocking a bipartisan border security bill that she says would have solved some of the challenges at the U.S.–Mexico border.
Trump during the news briefing also weighed in on the Texas senate race in which incumbent Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Rep. Colin Allred (D-Texas) are locked in a tight contest.
“It’s hard to believe that [Cruz] is in a race because, honestly, who would want to run against him because he’s a really great senator,” Trump said.
Cruz is leading with 48 percent, while challenger Allred is slightly behind at 47 percent, according to new Emerson College polling.
Meanwhile, Allred appeared alongside Harris during her Friday night campaign rally in Houston.
Harris also held her own press conference on Friday and expressed support for Allred in the race.
Harris told the reporters that she hasn’t voted yet but it’s on her list of priorities and also discussed her push to protect access to abortion.
While Harris campaigned in Houston on Friday evening, Trump rallied supporters in the battleground state of Michigan.