Arizona Republicans to speak before Donald Trump appears in Mesa

KTAR

PHOENIX — A number of Republican lawmakers from Arizona will speak before President Donald Trump takes the stage at his Mesa rally on Friday.

Patrick Ptak and Daniel Scarpinato, spokesmen for Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, confirmed that Ducey would speak during the event at International Air Response at Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. They did not provide specifics.

U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs was also scheduled to speak at the event in Mesa.

Barrett Marson, a spokesman for U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko, said she would deliver remarks during Trump’s visit to Luke Air Force Base in the West Valley earlier in the day.

“I suspect nothing short of amazing,” he said in regard to what the remarks would entail.

Trump will hold the East Valley rally to campaign for U.S. Senate hopeful Martha McSally and other Republican candidates ahead of the Nov. 6 midterm election.

The rally will begin at 6:30 p.m. Doors will open at 3:30 p.m. Those who wish to attend can reserve free tickets online on a first-come, first-served basis.

There will be no public activities during Trump’s visit to Luke, according to the Glendale Police Department.

The president will start his day at a roundtable with a group of supporters and then speak at a fundraising luncheon. Those events are scheduled to be private and held at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess.

The last time Trump appeared in the Valley was on Aug. 22, 2017, when he held a campaign rally at the Phoenix Convention Center.

After the event ended, officers used tear gas and pepper spray to disburse protesters.

The Phoenix Police Department later said its officers were responding to bottles and rocks being thrown at them.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona filed a class-action lawsuit last month against the city for the police department’s actions that night, alleging officers violated the protesters’ First Amendment rights.