Donald Trump to host a rally in Coachella on Saturday, Oct. 12
Former President Donald Trump is planning to host a rally in the Coachella Valley this weekend.
According to his campaign website, Trump is scheduled to host a rally at Calhoun Ranch in Coachella on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 5:00 p.m. PT. Doors are scheduled to open at Noon.
Click here to register for tickets to the event. You can only register up to two tickets per mobile number.
The city of Coachella is roughly 98 percent Hispanic. Located in the eastern part of the Coachella Valley, it's known for its agricultural production, the second-largest industry in our local economy. The city held a presidential rally for Senator Bernie Sanders in 2019.
Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez criticized news of Trump's rally in a statement he issued Monday afternoon:
“The City of Coachella was proud to welcome Senator Bernie Sanders during the 2020 primary election, but news of former President Trump’s upcoming visit has been met very differently. Trump’s attacks on immigrants, women, the LQBTQ community and the most vulnerable among us don’t align with the values of our community. He has consistently expressed disdain for the type of diversity that helps define Coachella. We don’t know why Trump is visiting near Coachella, but we know he wasn’t invited by the people who live here. He ain’t like us.”
- Coachella Mayor Steven Hernandez
Other local leaders also slammed the planned rally, including Congressman Raul Ruiz, Coachella Councilmember Frank Figueroa, and Indio Councilmember Waymond Fermon, who once worked security for Trump during his time at "Trump 29 Casino" in Coachella.
“It’s truly appalling – and yet another demonstration of his cluelessness and ignorance – that Donald Trump would stage a rally in Coachella,” Ruiz wrote.
“It’s truly appalling – and yet another demonstration of his cluelessness and ignorance – that Donald Trump would stage a rally in Coachella,” said Ruiz. “Under a second Trump administration, there is literally no place in America that would be harmed more than the Coachella Valley. His proposed tariffs would cause another trade war, costing farmers and farmworkers hundreds of millions of dollars in exports and jeopardizing thousands of jobs. His hate-driven immigration policy would decimate the local workforce in agriculture, construction, and hospitality, severely harming families and businesses alike – including some of the businesses that support him. His ignorant opposition to clean energy would destroy local wind and solar businesses, as well as the emerging industries developing in the Salton Sea. And his repeated attempts to dismantle Obamacare would take away health care from thousands of local residents. Donald Trump – and his policies – are an affront to everything that makes the Coachella Valley a vibrant community.”
- Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz
Fermon wrote, “It’s hard to imagine a politician who represents our communities and our values worse than Donald Trump. He is a threat to our needs and to democracy itself. I certainly will not be attending this rally, and I would discourage everyone else from attending as well.”
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, a Trump supporter, spoke wih News Channel 3 about security for the event.
"At this time, we're engaged with Secret Service for security, protection and security of the event and for the people that are attending and the off-site venues and everything else where people will be coming from. So that's really our concern. We haven't engaged at all with the President's or the former president's campaign team," Bianco said.
Bianco also spoke about Mayor Hernandez's statement:
"Mr. Hernandez, better take a look around, because he obviously was invited by the people that live there and work there, and maybe he's going to be in line for an awakening in the future, because this constant divide and this constant rhetoric that we have going on is not good for the country," Bianco said.
Cathedral City Councilmember Ernesto Gutierrez also issued a statement, confirming he is planning to attend.
"As a Republican council member and Hispanic, I’m beyond thrilled that Former President Donald J. Trump will be here in our valley. I will be attending his rally and I’m completely excited about it. Our Latino community needs to hear Trump’s message of hope, that could only happen with him in the White House."
- Cathedral City Councilmember Ernesto Gutierrez
News Channel 3 also reached out the owner of Calhoun Ranch and other local republican lawmakers and candidates, but we have not heard back.
Trump was last in the Coachella Valley in 2020 for a fundraising event in Rancho Mirage. Notably, a day after leaving the valley, Trump slammed the iconic Palm Springs wind turbines, which he has done since at least 2012.
The 45th president has a history in the region as well. The Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella was once called "Trump 29" back in the early 2000s.
The partnership between the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians and Trump ran from 2002 to 2006. The casino has been known as "Spotlight 29" ever since.
Stay with News Channel 3 for continuing coverage.
