Trump packs Kalispell arena in campaign event to boost GOP candidates
HAILEY SMALLEY | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 day, 2 hours AGO
President Donald Trump addresses the crowd during a Midterm Rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
The crowd reacts as President Donald Trump takes the stage during a Midterm Rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
President Donald Trump dances to the song "YMCA" by the Village People at the end of his Midterm Rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Kurt Alme during a Midterm Rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
President Donald Trump thanks the crowd as he takes the stage during a Midterm Rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
President Donald Trump dances as he takes the stage during a Midterm Rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
President Donald Trump addresses the crowd during a Midterm Rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Montana Republican congressional candidate Aaron Flint takes the stage during a Midterm Rally with President Donald Trump at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Montana Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Kurt Alme takes the stage during a Midterm Rally with President Donald Trump at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke speaks during a Midterm Rally with President Donald Trump at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Members of the crowd place their hands over their hearts during the national anthem before a Midterm Rally with President Donald Trump at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Gov. Greg Gianforte speaks during a Midterm Rally with President Donald Trump at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
Montana Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Kurt Alme speaks during a Midterm Rally with President Donald Trump at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider
President Donald Trump, wearing a dark suit, red tie and red USA cap, ambled into the Majestic Valley Arena to the raucous roar of a crowd.
He paused at the front of a temporary stage erected at the head of the arena to mouth along to the final strains of Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to be an American,” before stepping up to the podium.
“Well, thank you very much,” Trump said. “Hello, Montana. We love you, Montana.”
The Wednesday, Oct. 14 rally in Kalispell marked the latest in a string of last-minute campaign stops Trump is undertaking ahead of the 2026 midterm election to boost his political allies. Montana has been a stronghold for the GOP — a fact Trump spotlighted in his own speech.
“It’s a state I won in a record,” Trump said. “And I don’t know. It’s just like, no way. I’m from 5th Avenue.
“It doesn’t make sense, but it absolutely makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?”
The rhetorical question was met with cheers.
Attendees streamed into Majestic Valley Arena throughout the afternoon, filling the bleachers along one side of the venue as well as hundreds of folding chairs on the floor. Late-comers stood on a riser at the foot of the stadium, straining for a glimpse of the president.
Trump may have been the headliner for the event, but Republican candidate for Montana’s western congressional district Aaron Flint was the undisputed guest of honor. Flint is in a battle with Democrat Sam Forstag, a former wildland firefighter and union leader, in a race that’s considered a toss-up heading into the final weeks of the campaign.
Flint, a former radio host and Army veteran who recently moved to the Flathead Valley, worked the crowd and scribbled his signature on signs ahead of the event’s kickoff. Speaking with the media, he said the rally was all about authenticity.
“Personally, it’s just so incredible to be here with my family and to have the president of the United States come to the Flathead Valley of Montana,” Flint said during a short stop to the press pit ahead of the rally’s kickoff.
Kalispell may lag behind Missoula and Bozeman in terms of sheer numbers, but the Flathead Valley has long been a stronghold for the GOP. About 65% of the Flathead County vote went to Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Voter turnout tends to lag in non-presidential elections, leaving much more room for error in the 2026 race.
Flint referred to the race as a battleground between himself and Forstag. He hoped the presidential visit would spur the valley’s Republican base to the polls in November.
“You have to think of the vote here,” Flint said. “Flathead County, Montana can save America. Flathead County, Montana can save Montana.”
His name cropped up time and time again in a series of opening remarks from state politicians.
“I know we’re all here to get Aaron Flint elected,” Gov. Greg Gianforte said.
Reps. Troy Downing and Ryan Zinke and Montana senatorial candidate Kurt Alme made similar shows of support before Flint took the stage with his own rallying cry.
“If that man could get off his feet for you,” Flint said, gesturing toward an elderly veteran in the crowd, “Can you get off your asses and vote and save America this November? Flathead is going to do it. Flathead is going to do it.”
Trump had a similar message for Montanans when he assumed the stage around 7:30 p.m., about an hour and a half behind schedule.
“In this election, I’m asking you, you have to do this,” he told attendees. “You’ve got to pretend I’m running ... Just pretend I’m on the ballot. Show up and vote for these guys. We have to win.”
A NUMBER of local politicians and officials were in attendance to support the Republican candidates.
Kalispell business owner Kisa Davison led the arena in the Pledge of Allegiance at the onset of the event, pumping her hand into the air when she arrived at the line “under God.”
Davison launched a failed campaign for mayor of Kalispell last year, losing out to Ryan Hunter.
Former Republican state Rep. Steve Gunderson of Libby said that Wednesday’s event was his fourth Trump rally. But seeing the president so close to home was an unexpected turn of events, he said.
“It’s pretty impressive to have it in Kalispell, right in our backyard,” said Gunderson, who is running for the state Senate District 1 seat in the November election.
He said that quite a few of his fellow Republicans made the trek from Lincoln County, a convoy that included Sheriff Darren Short. Flathead County Sheriff Brian Heino was also at the arena.
While speaking to the press, Zinke reflected on watching President Richard Nixon at Glacier Park International Airport in 1971. In his memory, the visit was short.
“He barely made it down the stairs and said hello,” Zinke said. “I bet Trump speaks for a while.”
Zinke, who lives in Whitefish, hinted that he had been planning on a late night, even before the delay in the president’s arrival. Asked if he planned to visit the Bulldog Saloon in Whitefish after the rally, Zinke said, “Damn straight.”
“Probably the Great Northern, too,” he added.
TRUMP CYCLED through his usual talking points from the Kalispell podium, with a few state-specific nods to Northwest Montana’s timber industry and the power plant in Colstrip, as well as a new military testing range that he said the Department of War would be establishing in the state.
Trump also touted his tariffs for saving Montana’s remaining lumbermills. Tariffs on foreign lumber have been so successful, he said, that American sawmills are supplying more lumber than any point in the past 50 years.
Trump disputed any link between tariffs and inflation.
“We don’t have inflation and tariffs don’t cause inflation,” he said.
Government data released Wednesday showed inflation growing at an annual rate of 3.7%.
On global and national topics, Trump pledged that the war with Iran was near its end, an assertion he has made repeatedly since the war began in late February.
“It’s going to end,” he said. “It’s going to end very, very soon and when that happens oil is going to drop like a rock.”
The average cost for a gallon of gas in Montana was $4.49 as Trump was in Kalispell, roughly $1.40 more than a year ago.
He wrapped up his hourlong speech with another plea for attendees to vote in the coming election.
“The golden age of America is upon us,” he said. “But you must go out and vote Republican if you want to keep it that way.”
Trump stepped away from the podium about 8:45 p.m., dancing as the speakers began blaring the Village People’s “YMCA.”
Reporter Hailey Smalley can be reached at 406-758-4433 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.
The crowd reacts as President Donald Trump takes the stage during a Midterm Rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
President Donald Trump dances to the song "YMCA" by the Village People at the end of his Midterm Rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
President Donald Trump shakes hands with Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Kurt Alme during a Midterm Rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
President Donald Trump thanks the crowd as he takes the stage during a Midterm Rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
President Donald Trump dances as he takes the stage during a Midterm Rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
President Donald Trump addresses the crowd during a Midterm Rally at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Montana Republican congressional candidate Aaron Flint takes the stage during a Midterm Rally with President Donald Trump at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Montana Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Kurt Alme takes the stage during a Midterm Rally with President Donald Trump at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke speaks during a Midterm Rally with President Donald Trump at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Members of the crowd place their hands over their hearts during the national anthem before a Midterm Rally with President Donald Trump at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Gov. Greg Gianforte speaks during a Midterm Rally with President Donald Trump at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
Montana Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Kurt Alme speaks during a Midterm Rally with President Donald Trump at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)Casey Kreider
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Trump packs Kalispell arena in campaign event to boost GOP candidates
President Donald Trump, wearing a dark suit, red tie and red USA cap, ambled into the Majestic Valley Arena to the raucous roar of a crowd.
Trump packs Kalispell arena in campaign event to boost GOP candidates
President Donald Trump, wearing a dark suit, red tie and red USA cap, ambled into the Majestic Valley Arena to the raucous roar of a crowd.