Coachella’s Mayor Steven Hernandez recently expressed that Donald Trump does not “align with the values” of the city ahead of the former president’s scheduled rally later this week at Calhoun Ranch.
This event is significant—Trump’s first public appearance in the Coachella Valley since his 2020 campaign. His rally is set for 5 p.m. PST on Saturday, which is a surprising choice given that Coachella has leaned Democratic, with Congressman Raul Ruiz representing the area and the county consistently voting Democratic in recent presidential elections.
Some analysts speculate that Trump might aim to attract Latino voters in this typically blue region, trying to connect with a critical demographic ahead of the November elections. However, Mayor Hernandez—a Democrat in his fifth term—explicitly stated that Trump “wasn’t invited by the people who live here.”
Hernandez mentioned the contrast between welcoming Senator Bernie Sanders during the 2020 primaries and the disapproval of Trump’s upcoming visit. He added, “Trump’s attacks on immigrants, women, and the LGBTQ community do not reflect our community’s values.” Hernandez firmly concluded that Trump “ain’t like us,” highlighting the lack of local support for the rally.
Congressman Raul Ruiz echoed this sentiment in a statement, criticizing Trump for his lack of awareness regarding the community dynamics. Ruiz argued that there’s “no place in America that would be harmed more than the Coachella Valley” under another Trump administration, citing negative impacts from Trump’s policies on tariffs, immigration, and climate change.
As for the broader context, Trump’s rally is unlikely to sway opinions in California. Recent polling from FiveThirtyEight indicates Vice President Kamala Harris leads by nearly 25 points statewide. California hasn’t voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1988, and Trump’s previous attempts in 2016 and 2020 saw significant losses to Democratic opponents.