With control of the House hanging by a thread and a slew of difficult midterms on the horizon, the President is officially going back to what he does best: the campaign trail. But his latest stop isn’t just a routine rally; it’s a high-stakes intervention in a messy, 18-candidate Republican civil war to fill a seat left vacant by one of his most infamous former allies.
President Donald Trump travels to Rome, Georgia, on Thursday to deliver an economic pitch aimed squarely at working-class voters feeling the pinch of inflation.
However, the backdrop for this visit is the hotly contested special election to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District—a deeply conservative stronghold where Trump’s endorsement could make or break the race.
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At a Glance: The Georgia Pivot
- The Mission: President Trump is visiting Rome, Georgia, to spotlight his administration’s efforts to ease inflation and energy costs.
- The Battleground: The visit coincides with early voting to replace former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who stepped down in early 2026 following a falling out with Trump.
- The Candidates: A massive field of 18 candidates is vying for the seat in the March 10 special election, with a runoff likely on April 7.
- The Endorsement: Trump has endorsed Clay Fuller, a former local district attorney, over the crowded field.
- The Strategy: The trip follows a closed-door White House strategy session aimed at using Trump as the GOP’s “secret weapon” to motivate low-propensity voters for the midterms.
Replacing ‘Traitor’ Greene
The special election in Georgia’s 14th District is more than just a local race; it’s a test of the President’s kingmaking ability in a post-Greene era. Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a loyal MAGA firebrand, resigned from Congress earlier this year after a highly publicized rift with the administration.
Trump has made no secret of his lingering disdain for the former lawmaker. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One earlier this week, he dismissed her with a new moniker while framing the scramble for her old job.
“We have a lot of people that want to take Marjorie ‘Traitor’ Greene’s place, and many, many candidates, and I have to choose one… They say whoever I endorse is going to win.” — President Donald Trump
Trump ultimately threw his weight behind Clay Fuller, a former district attorney. However, with 18 candidates fragmenting the vote, political analysts widely expect that no single candidate will clear the 50% threshold on March 10, necessitating an April 7 runoff.
The Midterm ‘Secret Weapon’
While the special election dominates the local headlines, Trump’s visit is part of a much broader national strategy. Republicans are staring down traditional midterm headwinds, defending a razor-thin House majority and facing voter pessimism regarding the economy.
Earlier this week, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair hosted a closed-door strategy session with top Cabinet members and aides. The primary takeaway, delivered by chief pollster Tony Fabrizio, was clear: the economy is the paramount issue for voters, and the administration must aggressively sell its affordability efforts.
RNC Chair Joe Gruters recently referred to Trump as the party’s “secret weapon,” tasked with defying historical trends that usually punish the party in power during midterms.
“We got to make sure we turn our voters out… And there’s nobody that can energize our base more than President Trump.” — RNC Chair Joe Gruters
Democrats Fire Back
Trump’s return to the trail hasn’t gone unnoticed by the opposition. Democrats, who have notched several off-year electoral victories by focusing on the persistent pain of inflation, were quick to preempt the President’s Georgia visit.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) issued a blistering statement, accusing the administration of driving up costs for the very “hardworking families” Trump is addressing. The DNC claimed that residents in Georgia’s 14th District are “paying over $1,000 more per year for the basics” and facing skyrocketing healthcare premiums under Trump’s second term.
As the President steps to the podium in Rome, he isn’t just campaigning for a single House seat. He is beta-testing the economic message that will define the Republican Party’s fight for survival in November.