Trump invokes economy, public safety and 'China virus' during Asian American rally in Vegas

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 know, President Xi of China … he’s a friend of mine. I thought we were actually very close. But frankly, Covid, or as I call it, ‘the China virus,’ was a step too far,” he said.

It’s the kind of language that studies say precipitated a dramatic increase in anti-Asian hate and violence during the pandemic and in the years since.

“This particular rhetoric, which associates a racial group with a global pandemic, has particularly pernicious effects,” researcher Eli Michaels told NBC News in 2020.

Trump took a moment to praise the Filipino community, saying he likes their clothes.

“They had the most beautiful clothing, such bright colors,” he said. “I said ‘Where the hell do all these people come from?’ … You are the greatest people, hard-working people, and we’re going to take care of you.”

The Harris campaign has been trying to connect with Nevada’s Filipino Americans for months as well, releasing in-language ads, hosting meals with community members and recruiting locals to join the campaign.

“Just as we’re seeing huge shifts with Hispanics and the black community, this is a group that is poised to resonate powerfully with President Trump’s message of economic empowerment, law-and-order, safe streets, and a return to orderly, sane immigration policies,” Turning Point founder and president Charlie Kirk said in a news release ahead of the Las Vegas event.

During his hourlong speech, the former president mostly stuck to his campaign messaging, with promises to slash taxes, get rid of undocumented immigrants and restore public safety if he’s elected in November. He also attacked Vice President Kamala Harris, calling her “incompetent,” and saying she would be worse for Americans on those issues.

Ramaswamy and Gabbard were showered with praise from Trump, who said his Indian American former presidential rival “has a hell of a mouthpiece.”

“He’s got a big future in this party,” he said.

Vivek took the stage before Trump, speaking briefly about his family’s immigrant background.

“Like many of you in the audience, I say this as a kid of legal immigrants to this country,” “That means your first act of entering this country cannot break the law. And that is why, if we have the largest influx of illegal aliens into this country in American history, we will have the largest mass deportation in American history.”

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com