President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced the Department of War is establishing a new military testing range in Montana as he sought to boost Republican candidates in the state at a campaign rally.
The president said the Pentagon would establish a “new super range for testing advanced weapons and technologies,” including possible autonomous weapons, space and electronic warfare technology, supersonics, and hypersonics, during the event at Majestic Valley Arena in Kalispell. Trump’s latest announcement comes after he similarly revealed plans for a new submarine repair center in Ohio during a recent rally in the battleground state.
“Montana will help ensure the American military always reigns supreme,” Trump told attendees at the Montana rally, in remarks where he promised the Iran war would “end very quickly.”
The Kalispell rally sought to boost GOP congressional candidate Aaron Flint, who is in a tight race for a toss-up House seat against Democrat Sam Forstag. Republican Senate candidate Kurt Alme, who holds a firm polling lead in his race against Democratic candidate Alani Bankhead and independent candidate Seth Bodnar to succeed Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), also attended the event.
During the rally, Trump made another announcement, revealing that Fannie Mae, a government-sponsored mortgage financier, would invest billions in Montana to help residents buy their own homes.
“Under my leadership, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be investing $3 billion in Montana mortgages to help 10,000 Montana homebuyers achieve their American dream,” the president said before recognizing Chairman of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Bill Pulte, who was at the rally.
Trump sought to emphasize what he characterized as the strengths of his administration during the speech. He said Washington had ushered in significant economic gains since he took office in January 2025, arguing the United States has “the lowest level of poverty individually, … the highest level of individual wealth, and more people are working in our country today than ever before.” Trump told voters they have a “very simple” choice in the November elections before attacking “Democrat communists” who he warned would raise the cost of living.
TRUMP SAYS GOVERNMENT LEAKERS ‘SHOULD BE SHOT’
“You can vote for the radical left Democrat communist to loot your wealth, raise your taxes by $5 trillion,” Trump said. “It’s a crazy age, but they want to annihilate your voters, decimate Montana jobs, take away your guns, mutilate your children, give 25 million illegal aliens amnesty, and then give them the right to vote.”
“All my life, I’ve watched politicians — I’ve always found it fascinating. Little did I know I was going to be doing this, but all my life I’ve watched them say, Democrat and Republican, ‘We will lower your taxes. We will never raise your taxes. We will cut your taxes in half,’” he continued. “That’s everybody. This group is saying we will raise your taxes, and you’re supposed to vote for them. This is a crazy age, isn’t it?”