Trump rallies in Grand Island, urging voters to pretend he’s on the ballot and backing Sen. Pete Ricketts
President Donald Trump held a campaign rally at the Pinnacle Bank Expo Center in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, urging voters to support Republican candidates and to "pretend I’m on the ballot" despite his absence from the 2028 ticket.
The rally, billed as a boost for Senator Pete Ricketts’s re‑election bid, drew a capacity crowd that broke into chants of “four more years” after Trump mocked Democrats for celebrating his exclusion from the ballot. Witnesses reported the chant erupting when Trump recalled a recent Democratic comment about "thank God we don’t have to run against that guy anymore," prompting an immediate shout from the audience.
"I’m asking you to do me one favor: pretend I’m on the ballot, please. We got to go and win this. We got to win it," Trump said, adding that losing “a couple of little elections” could erase tax cuts and plunge the nation into depression.
Trump also singled out independent challenger Dan Osborn, labeling him a “fake independent” and accusing him of hiding Democratic loyalties. He urged Nebraskans to reject Osborn’s candidacy, framing the race as a fight against “radical‑left dumb‑ocrats.”
In addition to political exhortations, Trump announced an executive order aimed at reducing diesel costs for farmers and truckers by expanding access to red‑dyed diesel, a fuel traditionally reserved for off‑road agricultural equipment. The measure was presented as immediate relief for the state’s rural economy.
Reporters noted that the venue was “mobbed,” with thousands of supporters lined up outside and additional chairs brought in to accommodate overflow. Early voting for Nebraska’s midterms began the same day, and Trump’s appearance was billed as a kickoff to the statewide effort to turn out Republican voters.
Opponents staged a modest protest outside the expo center, arguing that the rally highlighted the deep partisan divide ahead of the November elections. The White House declined further comment on media access issues raised by reporters during the event.
Trump concluded the hour‑long rally with his signature dance to “YMCA,” while supporters cheered. The next stop on his campaign schedule is slated for Michigan later in the week, as he continues a multi‑state push to solidify GOP control of both chambers of Congress.
