SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
President Trump hit the campaign trail this week, first touting no tax on tips in Nevada, then on to Arizona for a campaign-style rally with Turning Point USA. President Trump's speech in front of a friendly crowd generated a lot of enthusiasm for the president.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: This November, we're going to win the midterms.
SIMON: But his appearance comes during a time when his approval ratings nationwide are at a record low. This week in particular was marked by controversy for the president around his criticism of Pope Leo and the ongoing public disapproval of the war in Iran. NPR's Saige Miller joins us. Thanks very much for being with us, Saige.
SAIGE MILLER, BYLINE: Thanks for having me.
SIMON: Why was the president giving special attention to the West this week?
MILLER: Well, Trump is trying to gain critical support for Republicans in swing states ahead of the midterm election, really trying to get the momentum going. Both Nevada and Arizona are critical battleground states, and Trump doesn't want to lose control of Congress come November. But that's looking like it might be an uphill battle.
SIMON: And how so?
MILLER: Trump has been in a lot of hot water following a slew of unpopular policies, including, most recently, the war in Iran. The war has driven up gas prices and inflation - major election issues. In an average of the polls, the president has hit a record low approval rating of 39%. However, Trump did not have to worry about criticism with this crowd. The crowd frequently erupted in cheers when Trump said something they agree with, even when he was speaking about the war.
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TRUMP: We are not ashamed of American might, and we do not hesitate to defend the American people, which is what we've been doing for the last two months because Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. It's very simple.
(CHEERING)
MILLER: And they booed loudly whenever Trump mentioned something about Democrats.
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TRUMP: They wanted to defund ICE. They want ICE terminated.
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MILLER: Even if morale is low nationwide, the audience was full of loyalists. When member station KJZZ political reporter Camryn Sanchez asked about the president's sharp criticisms of Pope Leo, many voters here backed Trump. This is what Ken McCormick (ph) had to say.
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KEN MCCORMICK: I've heard about it. Don't really care about it. Yeah. I mean, he says things all the time that make people mad, and it - I just - that's just the way he is.
MILLER: These are the voters and this is the kind of crowd he feels he can build momentum in a swing stay ahead of a midterm election that could be really cumbersome for Republicans. The majority of polls project a Democratic advantage, but Trump told attendees not to listen to the polls. Just get out and vote red when the time comes.
SIMON: What was President Trump's message overall to voters in Arizona?
MILLER: You know, Trump stuck to his usual script for the most part. He praised the same talking points he has since the beginning of his second term.
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TRUMP: America is on the march, and America is on the rise like we haven't seen maybe ever before. We are respected again as a country.
MILLER: Right now, though, there isn't a lot of strong policies he can lean on and elevate. There isn't a winning message out of the White House at the moment, which makes it harder for him to sell on the campaign trail. That's why the Turning Point crowd bodes so well for him. They are people who will support Trump no matter what, and he wants these loyalist crowds to help him do the heavy lifting of persuasion for voters who were on the fence, especially in these swing states.
SIMON: Of course, this was a Turning Point USA event, and President Trump is closely aligned with the organization, which has been in a period of rebuilding since its founder, Charlie Kirk, was shot to death last fall. What role does Turning Point play in all this push to win with conservatives?
MILLER: Turning Point used to have a really strong influence on young conservative voters. That was a voting bloc both parties struggled with, but Turning Point seemed to have figured out the secret sauce. But ever since - like you said - the founder, Charlie Kirk, died, the organization hasn't had the same reach with young Republicans as it once did. That didn't seem to be a problem for Trump on stage, though. This is what he pointed out.
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TRUMP: I want to thank all the young people. I've never seen so many young people in my life.
(CHEERING)
MILLER: Trump told the crowd that it's on Republicans to keep Kirk's legacy alive by encouraging young people in swing states to vote red. But we won't know if Trump's messaging is successful until November.
SIMON: NPR's Saige Miller. Thanks so much for being with us.
MILLER: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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