President Donald Trump spoke Tuesday at the Lubbock Civic Center before a full house. Organizers said it was the third visit to Lubbock by a sitting president, after Gerald R. Ford and George H.W. Bush. Trump campaigned for the Texas Republican ticket, with a focus on Attorney General Ken Paxton's U.S. Senate candidacy. During a speech of nearly two hours, he played a video of some statements made by Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico, along with CNN clips about Trump's popularity among Republicans.
Paxton also spoke, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio joined Trump on stage as a surprise guest. Earlier speakers included U.S. Rep. Jodey Arrington, Comptroller Don Huffines, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows, U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill and Texas Tech University System Board of Regents Chairman Cody Campbell. Lubbock Mayor Mark McBrayer, U.S. Rep. Ronny Jackson, Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, several cabinet secretaries and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles were among those attending. Organizers said people began lining up for seats early in the morning. The Pioneer reported that around noon, people in line said the seats were already full and they were waiting for spots in front of a jumbotron in the venue parking lot.