I witnessed Donald Trump give the most brazen and bizarre speech I have ever heard.

Between a rant about windmills killing birds, an appearance by influencer and boxer Jake Paul, tales of our armed forces taking an “excursion” to Iran, and insults to a range of figures from Barack Obama to Kamala Harris, and even Republicans Rand Paul and Thomas Massie, President Trump’s speech felt impulsive and unscripted. In the middle of his speech, he even begged his team to turn off the teleprompter.

On Wednesday, March 11, I had the chance to hear President Trump speak in person at the Verst Logistics facility in Hebron, Kentucky.

Trump visited Hebron as part of a larger campaign to punish Thomas Massie by rescinding his endorsement and instead supporting his challenger, Ed Gallrein. In attendance were Republican Senate candidates Andy Barr, Daniel Cameron and Nate Morris. While every candidate was acknowledged and thanked by the president, no one except Ed Gallrein was outright endorsed.

For many weeks, one pressing political event has been on my mind: the upcoming midterm elections. After hearing President Trump speak, it became abundantly clear to me that this is also on his mind.

The midterms could strip Republicans of their congressional majority and give power back to the Democratic Party. In just a few short months, the primary for both Mitch McConnell’s soon-to-be vacant seat and for Kentucky’s Fourth Congressional District will capture national attention as two of the most important positions for the Republican Party.

Rep. Thomas Massie, who currently represents the fourth district, has been the target of relentless scrutiny by President Trump due to his opposition to the Big Beautiful Bill, the war in Iran, aid to Israel and the slow release of the Epstein Files, among other things.

In a rare break of political partisanship, Rep. Thomas Massie decided to vote against the Big Beautiful Bill when it was brought before the House of Representatives last summer, citing the negative impact it would have on the American people due to the increase in the deficit and inflation that would result as a byproduct of the bill.

Trump has a history of punishing those who go against his agenda, even if they belong to his party, and Massie is no exception. Massie was the most targeted individual of the night in what appeared to be a massive smear campaign against the Kentucky representative. Trump even went as far as to say that he just needed a “warm body” to primary Massie, and he found that in Ed Gallrein.

In his two-hour-long address, Trump tirelessly defended his Big Beautiful Bill, claiming that it has tremendously benefited every Kentuckian. These are obviously comments from a person who has never seriously gotten to know anyone in rural Kentucky.

More than 595,000 Kentuckians rely on SNAP benefits, 68% of which being in families with children. The Big Beautiful Bill cuts these benefits by $186 million, removing a vital resource from those in need.

The bill also results in a total of $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid, which 1 in 3 Kentuckians rely on for affordable healthcare, has devastated the most vulnerable of our population.

Yet, the President bragged about all of the hard-earned taxpayer dollars that his administration has spent on yet another war in the Middle East and on immigration enforcement.

Trump even made nods towards the 2028 presidential election. President Trump even threw jabs at possible Democratic presidential candidate Governor Gavin Newsom, whom he only referred to as “Gavin Newscum.” Trump accused Newsom of having “mental issues” and being “not very smart.” He went on to say that Newsom was unfit to be president.

One of the most egregious abuses of rhetoric was the use of Christian nationalism throughout the speeches of the president and his guests. Influencer and boxer Jake Paul was invited on stage by President Trump, saying, “God is with us. I know he wants us on the right side of history, and everyone here has to do their part. God’s got us, Trump’s got us.” The mere assertion that it is “God’s will” to support the president, or any politician at all, is a gross and dangerous misrepresentation of Christianity.

For a decade, I have paid close attention to President Trump’s appearances through social media and other news outlets. However, nothing could have prepared me for the spectacle of seeing him in person. His speech lacked clear structure, with two hours of rambling and passionate attacks against those who oppose him.