At his first campaign rally targeting the Asian American and Pacific Islander community this election cycle, former President Donald Trump took the stage Thursday evening in Las Vegas with a speech focused on the economy, public safety and immigration to a group he says he believes he can make inroads with.
Trump headlined the “Unite for Change” rally, which was organized by the conservative PAC “Turning Point USA” and also featured speeches by former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
“Under the Trump administration, we’re going to build an economy that lifts up all Americans, including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and also members of our great Asian American and Pacific Islander community, many of whom are here today, especially so many amazing Nevada Filipinos,” Trump said.
Asian Americans now make up 12% of the electorate in Nevada, with Filipinos being the largest subgroup. Election results from the past few years suggest AAPI support for Democrats might be eroding. In 2020, President Joe Biden won 64% of the state’s Asian American vote, while Trump took 35%.
But in 2022, support in the Nevada governor’s race was more split among the local Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community, which only voted blue by an 8% margin.
In speaking to a diverse AAPI group whose vote he’s trying to court, he recirculated an old talking point, calling Covid the “China virus.”
“You…
