Stay Updated on Developing Stories

President Trump holds a rally in Tennessee

What we're covering here

  • NOW: President Trump holds a rally in Johnson City, Tennessee.
  • Earlier: The President announced the United States Mexico Canada Agreement, which is meant to replace NAFTA.
  • Meanwhile: The FBI is continuing its investigation into Trump's Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh.
8:14 p.m. ET, October 1, 2018

Our live coverage of Trump's rally in Tennessee has concluded for the evening. For more, see CNN Politics.
8:06 p.m. ET, October 1, 2018

Trump says health care will get "taken care of" when he gets a "few more votes" 

President Donald Trump, holding a rally in Tennessee, touted health care under his administration but added that more will get “taken care of” when he gets a “few more votes.”

“We eliminated the core of Obamacare. We got rid of the individual mandate -- it’s gone," Trump said, before promising: "But it’ll all get taken care of we just need a few more votes.”

7:55 p.m. ET, October 1, 2018

President Trump on Democrats: "They're going to flood your streets with criminal aliens"

President Trump took his attacks on Democrats to a new level tonight, attacking them for their support of liberalizing border laws and for support of so-called sanctuary cities, saying. they [sanctuary cities] "unleash violent predators." 

And, "They're going to flood your streets with criminal aliens."

"Remember what I said. They are the party of crime. Look at the way they treat our laws, the way they treat our Congress. Even day lives are lost because of Democrat policies." Trump said. 

7:48 p.m. ET, October 1, 2018

Trump on Blackburn: "A vote for Marsha is a vote for me"

After attacking Democrats like Joe Biden, Corey Booker and Elizabeth Warren, President Trump heaped praise on Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn in her tight Senate race against Democrat Phil Bredesen, and invited her up to the stage. 

Afterwards he hugged her, applauded and said:

"She is all about Tennessee values. She has Tennessee values. A vote for Marsha is a vote for me, and everything we stand for and a vote to make America great again."  

Trump then said a vote for Bredesen is a vote for "Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and the real leader of the Democrats Maxine Waters. Phil Bredesen wants to raise your taxes. He seems like a nice guy."

And, "He raised taxes and fees by more than one billion dollars. He opposes the border wall. He supported drivers' certificates for illegal aliens." 

"If you want to stop Schumer from becoming Majority Leader.. then you cannot vote for Phil Bredesen."

One thing to note: Phil Bredesen, the Tennessee Democrat running to represent the state in the US Senate, said just last week that he would not vote for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer if he wins his bid in November.
7:37 p.m. ET, October 1, 2018

Trump: "Democrats are the party of crime" 

President Trump declared tonight that "Democrats are the party of crime," saying they support open borders. 

Earlier he said they were trying to turn the country "into Venezuela," and that everyone's "401K will be destroyed." 

He also attacked former Vice President Joe Biden, saying "We call him One percent Biden." Adding, until former President Barack Obama "took him off the trash heap."

7:29 p.m. ET, October 1, 2018

Trump hits Kavanaugh investigation: "All of a sudden let's go back to high school"

President Trump just accused Democrats again of doing everything they can to destroy him. "They've been trying to destroy him since the very first second he was announced because they know that Judge Kavanugh will follow the Constitution."

He added: "And he is a good man, great student, great intellect. All of a sudden let's go back to high school." 

He also attacked Sen. Feinstein for holding on to the letter from Ford for two months. 

7:25 p.m. ET, October 1, 2018

Trump opens rally by talking about the economy

Declaring it was "such a simple statement, but such a complicated thing to do." President Trump opened his remarks in Tennessee touting the success of the US economy and the record stock market. 

He also discussed the new agreement reached today with Canada saying:

"Just today we made history again when I announced we are replacing the job killing disaster known as NAFTA, with a brand new United States Mexico and Canada agreement."

"We have two wonderful partners now Mexico and Canada, and you know what that is a good thing. America is winning again.. because we are finally putting America first." 

7:14 p.m. ET, October 1, 2018

This is the first of four Trump rallies this week

President Trump just took the stage in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Can't watch tonight's rally? Don't worry -- you'll have a few more chances to see the President in action this week.

Tonight's rally in Tennessee follows a string of rallies in recent weeks, most recently one in West Virginia this past Saturday, and he's not done yet -- this is the first of four this week. planned this week.

He will hold a rally in Mississippi on Tuesday, Minnesota on Thursday, and Kansas on Saturday.

6:56 p.m. ET, October 1, 2018

Key topics that could come up at tonight's rally

President Trump is speaking tonight in Tennessee after a tumultuous week, during which all eyes were on the Kavanaugh hearings.

He'll likely have a lot to say about the resulting FBI investigation, the new trade deal struck with Mexico and Canada late Sunday, and other key issues.

Here are a few subjects that Trump could bring up:
  • Kavanaugh and the FBI investigation: President Trump has strongly defended his Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh as the controversy over sexual assault allegations continues to heat up. On Monday, he railed against Democrats for their behavior in the process, and decried the "trauma" that the allegations have inflicted on Kavanaugh. Although he has so far deferred to the FBI, insisting on a "thorough" investigation.
  • The FBI investigation: President Trump has so far said that investigators should speak with whichever Republican senators want, as well as the three women making the allegations. However, Trump revealed some frustration with the process on Monday, saying, "We don't want to go on a witch hunt, do we?"
  • NAFTA -- oops, we mean USMCA: The US, Canada and Mexico came to a last-minute agreement on a revised trade deal that could replace NAFTA -- the "US, Mexico Canada Agreement," or USMCA. The deal, which Trump touted as the "most balanced trade agreement in the history of our country," will now be sent to Congress for approval.
  • Las Vegas shooting: Monday marked the one-year anniversary of the Las Vegas massacre, where a shooter killed 58 people at a concert. Last week, the Justice Department formally proposed a rule that would ban bump stocks, and on Monday Trump suggested that the review process could be completed in "two or three weeks."
  • Kanye West: The rapper, who has long drawn controversy for his support of President Trump, went on a pro-Trump rant complete with a MAGA hat after his "Saturday Night Live" performance. West received public backlash as well as praise from Trump, who tweeted Sunday, "He’s (West) leading the charge!"
Outbrain