Trump Mocks Talarico’s Absence, Targets Omar and El Sayed at Clarksville Rally

President Trump used a campaign rally in Clarksville, Tennessee, to mock Texas Senate candidate James Talarico over a nearly two-week absence from the campaign trail that Talarico’s campaign attributed to the flu.

“He had the longest flu ever recorded,” Trump told the crowd. “He was away for, like, almost 14 days. He was missing in action! I don’t think it was the flu either, that it was a new strain of flu.” He added, “It keeps you out of commission for weeks!” and noted, “This guy Talafreako still wears the mask. And he had the longest flu ever recorded!”

Talarico, the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Texas, had faced scrutiny over his absence before reappearing Friday afternoon, when he was seen at a music festival.

The rally took place at F&M Bank Arena, where Trump appeared alongside Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty and gubernatorial candidate Marsha Blackburn.

Comments on Omar and Minnesota

Trump also criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., referencing her Somali heritage. “[Somalia] don’t have a government. They don’t have police. All they have is crime and squalor,” he said. He went on: “She comes into our country and she says, ‘my constitution allows me…’ She’s talking about our constitution!” He also said, “What they’ve done to Minnesota, these people from Somalia, what they’ve done to Minnesota should never be allowed.”

Remarks on Abdul El Sayed

Trump referred to Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El Sayed by a different name during the rally. “I call him Mohammed. Someone said, his name isn’t Mohammed, it’s Abdul! I said, I’m president, I can call him whatever the hell I want. To me, he’s Mohammed, and he’s a radical jihadist!” Trump said. “I don’t want a jihadist as senator,” he added.

According to local outlet Clarksville Now, Trump also urged Republicans to turn out for the midterms, joking about how the results might be received. “If we don’t win the midterms, they’re going to blame me,” he said. “If we do win, they won’t give me credit.”