President Trump wraps up Fort Myers rally ahead of midterm elections | See the highlights – WINK News
Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 64F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph..
Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 64F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph.
Updated: October 23, 2026 @ 4:49 pm
Byron Donalds (pictured on the left) and David Jolly (pictured on the right)
Byron Donalds at Alico Arena
WINK News will have reporters covering the presidential visit and the key issues driving the midterm elections, including the high-profile race for Florida governor between Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly.
WINK News will have reporters covering the presidential visit and the key issues driving the midterm elections, including the high-profile race for Florida governor between Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly.
4:57 p.m. — Air Force One departs RSW: President Donald Trump’s plane has departed Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) following his rally in Fort Myers.
4:22 — Trump ends speech at Alico Arena: Trump has completed his speech at the Byron Donalds campaign event, where he addressed political rivals, the Florida seafood industry and the economy among other topics.
Stay with WINK News for further coverage recapping the event.
4:06 — Byron Donalds takes the stage at FGCU: Donalds took the stage at Alico Arena during Trump’s speech.
Byron Donalds at Alico Arena
3:55 p.m. — Robert Kennedy announced that Trump is adding a “Made in America” label to American-made seafood.
3:17 p.m. — Trump calls for removal of Ilhan Omar: Trump has called for the removal of Rep. Ilhan Omar from Congress following an FBI probe.
3:15 p.m. — Trump criticizes Jolly while referencing Fort Myers murder case: President Donald Trump criticized Democratic gubernatorial candidate David Jolly during his rally in Southwest Florida on Friday, accusing Jolly of wanting to protect people like Robert Joachin, a Haitian national accused of killing two women in Fort Myers. WINK News has reached out to Jolly’s campaign for comment.
2:45 p.m. — Trump speaks exclusively with WINK News’ Claire Galt: During the interview, WINK News asked Trump about affordability, Republican control of Congress, congressional redistricting and immigration enforcement.
During the interview, WINK News spoke with Trump about the cost of living, the midterm elections and war with Iran.
2:20 p.m. — Trump’s motorcade arrives at FGCU: The president’s motorcade has arrived on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus and is making its way toward Alico Arena, where he is scheduled to speak at a campaign rally.
1:55 p.m. — Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis speak with the media: Trump and DeSantis spoke with the media after he landed at RSW on Friday. They both headed to FGCU for the campaign rally.
1:45 p.m. — Trump administration officials take the stage: Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have taken the stage at Alico Arena ahead of President Trump’s remarks.
1:35 p.m. —Trump arrives in Southwest Florida: President Donald Trump has landed at Southwest Florida International Airport. Watch live coverage above.
1:20 p.m. — Byron Donalds takes the stage: Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds has taken the stage at Alico Arena ahead of Trump’s scheduled remarks.
1:09 p.m. — Florida officials speak ahead of Trump’s arrival: Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and U.S. Sen. Ashley Moody, a Republican candidate seeking election to the Senate, spoke at Alico Arena ahead of President Donald Trump’s arrival.
12:45 p.m. — Florida political candidates speak ahead of Trump’s arrival: Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Steube, who represents Florida’s 17th Congressional District; Jim Schwartzel, a Republican running for Florida’s 19th Congressional District; and incumbent Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson spoke on stage ahead of President Donald Trump’s arrival.
Evan Power, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, was also in attendance.
11:45 a.m. — Trump departs White House: Trump has departed the White House on Air Force One and is expected to land in Fort Myers at around 2 p.m.
11:00 a.m. — Trump takes questions from reporters before trip: The President took questions from reporters on the White House lawn before departing for Southwest Florida.
10:30 a.m. — Doors open at Alico Arena: Doors have opened at FGCU’s Alico Arena ahead of President Donald Trump’s scheduled campaign rally in Fort Myers.
10:00 a.m. — Crowds gather outside Alico Arena: People lined up outside the arena ahead of the rally.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA (WINK) — President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Fort Myers on Friday for a campaign rally supporting Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds, bringing a high-profile political event to Southwest Florida less than two weeks before Election Day.
The rally is scheduled for 2 p.m. at Alico Arena on the campus of Florida Gulf Coast University. Doors are scheduled to open at 10:30 a.m.
Check back on this page for live coverage of the president’s visit.
WINK News will have reporters covering the presidential visit and the key issues driving the midterm elections, including the high-profile race for Florida governor between Republican Byron Donalds and Democrat David Jolly.
Trump’s visit comes as Republicans work to maintain political momentum ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. The president has been campaigning for Republican candidates around the country, making his appearance in Fort Myers part of the party’s final stretch of campaigning before voters head to the polls.
Trump campaigned in Greenville, North Carolina, earlier this week, appearing alongside Republican candidates in a state with competitive congressional races.
RELATED: Why Fort Myers? The politics behind President Trump’s Southwest Florida rally
In Florida, the rally puts a national spotlight on the race for governor, where Donalds, a Republican congressman backed by Trump, is facing Democrat David Jolly.
Byron Donalds (pictured on the left) and David Jolly (pictured on the right)
Jolly campaigned with former President Bill Clinton in South Florida earlier this week. Clinton encouraged voters to give Jolly a chance, while casting Donalds as an ally of Trump. The Democratic Governors Association also announced a $1 million investment in Jolly’s campaign, according to the Associated Press.
SEE ALSO: Bill Clinton joins David Jolly on campaign trail ahead of Florida governor’s race
The race is unfolding in a state where Democrats have not won a gubernatorial election since 1994.
Trump last visited Fort Myers in April 2023, when he attended an event at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center.
He later visited Alligator Alcatraz, the former state-run immigration detention facility in Ochopee, in July 2025.
WINK News will continue updating this story as the event unfolds. Follow WINK News on air and at WINKNews.com for live coverage and the latest from the event.
Jim Schwartzel is the president of Sun Broadcasting, which owns local media outlets, including 92.5 FOX News, The CW and FOX Florida, which air WINK News. Schwartzel has no involvement in WINK News editorial decisions.
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