President Donald Trump labeled Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs a "low IQ individual" during a Wednesday rally in Bullhead City, escalating the rhetoric ahead of the November midterms. Standing on the same stage as his chosen gubernatorial nominee, Rep. Andy Biggs, Trump targeted the incumbent Democrat’s handling of immigration and her perceived hostility toward his administration. The insult marks a sharp departure from his usual policy-based critiques, moving straight into personal ad hominem attacks.
The President also revisited the contentious February 24 State of the Union address, where he challenged lawmakers to stand if they believed the government’s primary duty was protecting American citizens over undocumented immigrants. Many Democrats remained seated. Trump claimed not one Democrat smiled or clapped during the recognition of veterans, including retired Navy Capt. E. Royce Williams, who was 100 at the time. "You people are crazy," Trump told the crowd, referring to the Democratic caucus. "They’ll destroy our country."
Biggs, who is aiming to unseat Hobbs, urged the crowd to "turn Arizona red." The Republican nominee called for a top-to-bottom Republican sweep, a strategy Trump echoed while endorsing Biggs’s running mate, former state senator Sine Kerr. Trump also backed Alex Kolodin, the Republican candidate for secretary of state, branding him a "warrior for election integrity" while criticizing incumbent Adrian Fontes.
The rally served as a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who would have turned 33 on Wednesday. Trump described Kirk as "a great man" and urged voters to treat the election as a tribute to his life. "He’d be out there fighting like nobody else," Trump said. "So, let’s have a big victory in honour of Charlie Kirk." Democratic Sen. John Fetterman later noted that he did stand during the SOTU to honor the veterans, directly contradicting Trump’s narrative.
With polling data showing tight races in Arizona, this personal attack may define the final stretch of the campaign. Hobbs’s office has not yet issued a formal response to the "low IQ" comment, but her campaign is expected to frame the election as a choice between dignity and divisiveness. The next major debate between the two candidates is scheduled for late October.