In what was meant to be a “burn!” moment, Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez attempted to dismiss former President Donald Trump as a kook, but in trying to do so, he exposed himself and his supporters as completely disconnected with the rest of the country.
News flash: if you say Trump isn’t like you, that’s not a bad thing.
At a glance:
- Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez criticized Donald Trump ahead of his planned rally near the city, saying Trump’s values do not align with those of the community.
- Trump’s campaign stop at Calhoun Ranch marks an unusual visit to a Democratic stronghold, with some speculating he is targeting Latino voters.
- Local Democratic leaders, including Congressman Raul Ruiz, expressed disapproval, calling the rally a sign of Trump’s “cluelessness” about the region.
As Donald Trump prepares for a rally near Coachella, California, Mayor Steven Hernandez did not mince words in his reaction. Trump, scheduled to speak at Calhoun Ranch this Saturday, is not receiving the warmest welcome from local leadership. Hernandez, a Democrat in his fifth term, released a pointed statement rejecting Trump’s presence in the area, emphasizing that the former president “wasn’t invited by the people who live here.”
https://x.com/BiblioRaccoon/status/1843495486763733167
There are lots of sane people in California who don’t want the Democrats in power, you know…
“Trump’s attacks on immigrants, women, the LGBTQ community, and the most vulnerable among us don’t align with the values of our community,” Hernandez wrote, underscoring the city’s pride in its diversity and progressive values. Hernandez contrasted Trump’s upcoming visit with that of Bernie Sanders, who was welcomed during the 2020 primary by local extremists. “He ain’t like us,” Hernandez added, making clear that Trump’s track record conflicts with what Coachella represents.
https://x.com/igorbobic/status/1843388991623835982
This stop comes at an odd time and place for a Republican candidate. Coachella’s congressional district is strongly Democratic, and Riverside County has leaned Democratic in recent presidential elections. Despite this, some experts speculate that Trump’s visit may be aimed at energizing Latino voters, a key demographic in swing states across the country.
But Trump is taking the fight to the blue states, proving that he will be a president for all of America and not just Republicans.
Congressman Raul Ruiz, who represents the district, echoed the mayor’s sentiments, slamming Trump’s policies on immigration, climate, and tariffs as harmful to the Coachella Valley. “It’s truly appalling—and yet another demonstration of his cluelessness and ignorance—that Donald Trump would stage a rally in Coachella,” Ruiz said.
Trump’s campaign defended the visit, with communications director Steven Cheung stating that the rally would highlight Vice President Kamala Harris’ “poor record” and Trump’s “solutions for every state and every American.”