WATCH LIVE: Trump talks about the economy in Las Vegas

Darlene Superville, Associated Press Darlene Superville, Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — President Donald Trump is making a rare visit to California and Nevada this week to try to draw contrasts with Democrats on the economy, border security and crime, seeking to shore up support for Republicans in November elections that will determine whether his party keeps control of Congress. The Republican president has struggled to connect with voters on the economy as elevated inflation and Americans' feelings of uncertainty have overshadowed the stock market gains he often cites along with a low national unemployment rate. Just before Trump arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday to speak at a Republican National Committee fundraising dinner at a golf club his family owns in Rancho Palos Verdes, authorities revealed that a California man who was carrying ammunition and had a gun in his car had been arrested Sunday at the golf course. The man appeared to have been monitoring security preparations. Please check your inbox to confirm.

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Scoop News DeskLas Vegas, Nevada · Published Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 5:47 PM UTCUpdated Wednesday, August 5, 2026 at 6:08 PM UTC

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The Democrat's press office put out a statement Tuesday saying that Trump was traveling to California not to help survivors of the wildfires but to raise money and attack the state with lies. "More than anything, we'd like the President to keep the promise he made on January 24, 2025: to 'take care of Los Angeles,'" Newsom said. "18 months later, survivors are still waiting. He surveyed the aftermath of wildfires that had wiped out whole neighborhoods of Los Angeles County, left thousands of people homeless and killed more than two dozen.