Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump will hold a series of campaign events in Austin on Tuesday. The day’s events culminate in what is expected to be a standing room only crowd at the Luedecke Arena at 7:30 p.m.
Earlier in the day, the GOP nominee will attend a fundraiser at the Headliner’s Club in downtown Austin. In addition to the rally at the Luedecke Arena, Trump is also scheduled to conduct a two-evening town hall meeting on Border Security with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller are expected to attend the rally with the GOP nominee in Austin. Governor Greg Abbott’s office said the governor is unable to attend because of a scheduled medical appointment at Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio related to the severe burns he received late in June.
Texas General Land Office Commissioner George P. Bush said he will be unable to attend the fundraiser due to a conflict with his state duties at that time. He did not indicate if he would be available for the rally Tuesday night. Earlier this month, the Texas Land Commissioner who is the son of former GOP presidential candidate and Florida Governor Jeb Bush broke from the family political line and urged Texas Republicans to get behind the nominee, Breitbart Texas reported on August 8. Bush is serving as the Texas GOP’s 2016 Victory Chairman and is responsible for getting votes for all Republicans on the ballot.
Bush told members of Texas State Republican Executive Committee (SREC), “it’s a bitter pill to swallow, but you know what? You get back up and help the man who won, and you make sure that we stop Hillary Clinton.”
The GOP nominee currently has less than a 10-point lead over Clinton in what is normally a dark red state. The closer margin may explain Trump’s decision to come to Texas. It is also an opportunity for the candidate to highlight one of his primary issues – securing the border between the United States and Mexico.
Trump may also use the event to highlight how his trade policies would positively impact Texas farmers which would be a sharp contrast to Clinton’s long-standing support of “free trade” agreements that have hurt both farmers and American workers.
Mr. Trump took advantage of the trip to Texas to announce his appointment of an agricultural policy advisory team that includes former Texas Governor Rick Perry and the Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, Breitbart Texas reported Monday. Other Texans appointed to the board include U.S. Representative Mike Conaway (R-TX) who serves as chairman of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee, Texas Cowboy Poet Red Steagall, and BarG CEO Johnny Trotter.
“Governor Perry grew-up in Paint Creek, Texas, on a dry-land cotton farm. He was born in Haskell. While he was serving as a representative in the Texas House, he served on the Agriculture and Livestock Commission,” Stan Gerdes noted. Perry also served as the State’s agricultural commissioner for two terms prior to becoming governor.
Commissioner Miller told Breitbart Texas he believes a Trump Administration would be good for Texas farmers and ranchers. “The number one reason is trade. There are countries we cannot get our products into. Hillary may be for free trade, but Donald Trump is for fair trade. He will do what is good for Americans.”
On the issue of border security, Trump earned the endorsement of the 17,000 men and women who serve as rank and file Border Patrol agents. Trump came to Texas last year, early on in the primary race to meet with members of the National Border Patrol Council, Local 2455 in Laredo. Chapter President Hector Garza told Breitbart Texas at the time, “We appreciate Mr. Trump and anyone else with such a platform who takes the time to hear what we are experiencing and seeing at the border. We assure you that the reality is far different from what the federal government is telling the public.”
Border Patrol agents are expected to be on-hand for Trumps visit to Austin on Tuesday.
Border security continues to be an important issue and has become more so because of the growing violent civil war occurring just south of the Texas border towns of Brownsville, McAllen and Laredo as factions of the Gulf Cartel and Los Zetas Cartel engage in ruthless acts of terrorism just south of Texas. Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles continues to report on the atrocities that are happening within miles of American cities.
The Sean Hannity Town Hall meetings will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Moody Theater in Austin.
Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX
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