President Trump touts saving accounts, attacks Ossoff during stop at metro Atlanta high school

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Keisha Lance Bottoms said after President Trump's speech in Marietta that Georgia voters have a clear choice in the 2026 midterm elections.

"A picture is worth a thousand words," said Bottoms. "Today, Rick Jackson stood next to Donald Trump to again pledge he will be Trump's 'favorite governor.'"

In a statement, Bottoms said, "Rick Jackson would work for Donald Trump, I will work for Georgians. As Governor, I'll take action to lower costs, expand Medicaid, and make pre-K accessible for every Georgia family. I will also stand up to anyone — including Donald Trump — if their policies hurt Georgians."

Bottoms secured the Democratic Party's nomination in May. Last month, she campaigned with U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff in Atlanta.

Repeating variations on the signature theme of his campaign, President Trump thanked the crowd before the Village People's "YMCA" began playing.

The president left the stage after doing his well-known dance connected with the song.

As Trump narrowed in, touting his immigration agenda, he brought up the November arrest of a man in Clayton County who had been found to be twice deported to Mexico.

Salvador Rodriguez Mendoza was arrested and charged with escalating a fistfight into a murder after shooting two men.

One of those men died, and another was injured.

"And we always stand with the heroes of ICE and border patrol," Trump said as the crowd applauded.

While talks continue in Washington, D.C., over the budget, President Trump is calling for a radical change in the Senate.

The filibuster is a longstanding parliamentary tool that halts action on most bills unless 60 senators in the 100-member chamber vote to move forward. Over the years, it has stymied policy priorities for Democrats and Republicans alike.

The president has called for the filibuster to be eliminated in the past and has complained about the legislative maneuver since his first White House term.

On Wednesday, Mr. Trump continued his calls to take action.

"The Democrats are going to do it. The Democrats are going to terminate the filibuster as soon as they have the chance," he told the crowd.

The president argued that Democratic lawmakers would then make Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia as states, saying that would give the party more representation and electoral votes. He also predicted that the country would see another government shutdown in September.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Rep. Mike Collins was not at Wednesday's event due to an upcoming vote in Washington, D.C., but President Trump gave him a shout-out in the Republican lawmaker's challenge of incumbent Sen. Jon Ossoff.

Mr. Trump took aim at Ossoff, who is running for reelection, calling him "Pee-wee Herman" and saying that he and other Democrats wanted to defund United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"Jon Ossoff and the Democrat communists want to let the Marxists into power, bankrupt your families and leave you totally undefended with wide open borders," Mr. Trump told the crowd.

The president said that he had beaten Ossoff once before, pointing to the senator's loss to Karen Handel in a special House election in 2017.

Mr. Trump said that, if elected, Collins would bring money back to Georgia.

"He's a great guy, and he loves your state, and he'll work hard," Mr. Trump said.

Ossoff has targeted Collins' connection with the Trump administration during his reelection campaign, calling the president a "national disgrace" leading a "Mar-a-Lago mafia" and "the most corrupt administration of all time."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

At the end of his short speech, Rick Jackson praised Donald Trump as a businessman and claimed that he would bring affordability to an "all-time low" in Georgia.

Before leaving the stage, he declared to the Cobb crowd that he was going to be "this man's favorite governor."

Jackson is running against former Atlanta mayor Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms in November.

Trump also endorsed state Sen. Brian Strickland, state Sen. Greg Dolezal, and state Rep. Tim Fleming, saying they all had his "complete and total endorsement."

Before coming to the stage, President Trump said Rick Jackson had a "big announcement."

After taking the stand, Jackson announced, if elected governor, he will push the state of Georgia to match the federal government's Trump Account match with an additional $1,000.

He also said if Georgia lawmakers don't do it, he will provide the $1,000 match himself.

He went on to praise TrumpRX and other business dealings Mr. Trump has created while in office.

In a statement, the Democratic Governor's Association (DGA) criticized Rick Jackson's appearance at the event, saying it served as a reminder of Jackson's total alignment with Trump at a time when Georgian are demanding answers to the affordability crisis.

"Rick Jackson has made crystal clear: he is for Donald Trump and his cost-raising agenda - even when it hurts Georgia," said DGA spokesperson Kevin Donohoe. "Georgians need a governor who will fight for them - not a Trump sycophant."

President Trump claims that his administration has brought down the price of eggs.

"Affordability… that's what they said," Mr. Trump repeated during his speech. "I said, 'Don't worry, I'll take care of it.' "

The president went on to take credit for the historic drop in egg prices after they rapidly inflated over the past two years.

For shoppers,  a drop of nearly 28% compared to the previous year and have fallen more than 60% from the peak of $6.23 seen in early 2025.

Whether or not it is considered a win for the Trump administration is contentious. Experts say after avian flu outbreaks heavily decimated the hen population, farmers aggressively restocked their flocks. Today, the U.S. has roughly 309 million layers, leading to an oversupply that has pushed wholesale prices down by over 90% and brought grocery costs close to pre-bird-flu levels.

One of the main topics President Trump was expected to highlight were his administration's new Trump Accounts. created by 

"It's hot as a pistol," Trump said of Trump Accounts.

He then gave a brief description of how the accounts work, including the $1,000 in seed money that the government awards babies born from 2025 to 2028.

"The money is pouring in, and again it's for children, and all sorts of advantages and tax advantages for the people that do it and make this investment in our future," Mr. Trump said.

The president brought up a family who he said are taking advantage of the account for their three young children.

"As a father, it's encouraging to know that our childrens' future can begin with an investment from day one," Cole Loden said.

The tax-advantaged accounts, created last year through Trump's signature tax and spending cuts bill, can be opened for any child under the age of 18. The Treasury Department boasts 6.5 million sign-ups for Trump Accounts, with 1.5 million of those eligible for the $1,000 seed funding for babies born from 2025 through 2028. 

While some parents have said they've seen delays in receiving the fudning incentive, most of those families receive their $1,000 in one or two days, the Treasury Department said.

The program has faced criticism from those who say it does nothing to help families in a child's first years of life, when children are most likely to experience poverty, homelessness and hunger. And the Republican bill that created the program also slashed funding for programs that are disproportionately used by children, including Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Trump dedicated part of his speech to reiterating a key message part of his stump.

The president has continuously claimed America is in a "golden age," referencing economic victory laps while accusing the previous administration of not doing enough.

The comments landed on a mixed crowd back in February during his second SOTU, but only time will tell if the message resonates with Cobb County voters for whom affordability remains a top issue.

Mr. Trump also pointed to his moves to remove taxes on overtime and Social Security.

During his speech, Trump discussed meeting with the family of one of the two American soldiers killed in Iran.

First Lt. Tyler James Feehan was killed in action on July 18 during an enemy attack at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan.

Trump says Feehan was on his way to becoming a general and expressed sorrow for the family's loss.

"To Sherry, Steven, and David, we will carry Tyler's memory in our hearts forever…" Trump said as he recounted flying on Air Force One with the family to Georgia. 

As part of his speech, President Trump discussed bringing large companies back to the United States and mentioned that Global biopharmaceutical company UCB, Inc. is expected to set up a new facility in Gwinnett County.

Officials announced in March that UCB plans to invest $2 billion in Georgia as part of the work at the new site, which will be located on the Rowen Foundation's 2,000-acre science and learning campus near Dacula.

The new facility would create 330 permanent jobs in biologics manufacturing and more than 1,000 construction jobs. UCB estimated it would generate an estimated $5 billion in economic impact for the area.

The president also pointed to investment in the states by Yamaha Motors and Element Six.

President Trump has taken to the stage to the Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA" and the cheers of the crowd.

The president walked across the stage before making his way to the podium.

"I am here to announce my candidacy," Mr. Trump joked before thanking the audience, saying he was thrilled to be back in Georgia.

The president touted his victory in the state in the 2024 presidential election, saying that he earned more votes of any presidential candidate in Georgia.

"Every day since I've been fighting for the people of Georgia like no president has ever fought before," he said.

President Trump is on the premises at Marietta's Wheeler High School. 

The presidential seal has been hung on the podium, to the music of Guns N' Roses' "November Rain."  

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warmed up the crowd ahead of President Donald Trump's remarks by highlighting the administration's economic agenda and promoting its new "Trump Accounts" program.

Bessent opened by praising Georgia and thanking supporters before joking that one of the perks of serving as Treasury Secretary is receiving late-night phone calls from the president.

"The best part of my job is getting the chance to get out of Washington to spend time with the amazing people of the United States," Bessent said. "There are few places where you see the strength of spirit in America more than here in Georgia."

Bessent called Cobb County "Trump country" and said Trump won more votes in Georgia than any presidential candidate in the state's history.

The Treasury secretary credited the administration with tax cuts, increased private-sector employment, energy production and border security. He said the administration's tax cuts save the average Georgia family about $3,100 a year and protect more than 200,000 jobs in the state.

Bessent also pointed to what he called strong economic growth, saying the economy has added more than 900,000 private-sector jobs since Trump took office and that real gross domestic product has grown at an annual rate of 2.7% over the past four quarters.

Much of Bessent's speech focused on the administration's new "Trump Accounts" initiative. He said the program had attracted more than 6 million sign-ups before its July 4 launch and provides eligible children born during President Trump's current term with a $1,000 seed investment from the U.S. Treasury.

According to Bessent, 86% of the over 6 million enrolled children come from families earning less than $200,000 annually. He described the initiative as one of the administration's most significant accomplishments and said it gives children "a stake in the American dream."

Kelly Loeffler, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration and former Georgia senator, called the Trump Accounts "life-changing."

She said employers can give $2,500 to employees for their Trump Accounts, tax-free.

"There's a great saying, and it says the best time to plant a tree is yesterday," Leoffler said. "These accounts help plant that tree right now, to get a head start on growth for this generation."

"Thanks to President Trump's dedication to young people, the American dream is alive and well and growing stronger every day in Georgia," Leoffler continued.

One of the protestors outside of Wheeler High School on Wednesday was John Hath.

Hath is a U.S. Army veteran from Cherokee County and said he voted for President Trump twice, but now he's pulling his support for the president.

He was seen holding a sign which read "I voted red, but now I'm turning blue."

Hath said the issue of immigration is what caused him to rethink his support for the president. He said he's also tired of hearing about the 2020 election and wants to hear more about the kitchen table issues facing Americans.

"I can go anyway I want to on my vote," Hath said. "It's what the candidate expresses. Economy, you know, helping the older people, the homeless people, there's a lot of issues we should be addressing. Then he's still talking about stealing the election in 2020. It's over. 2020 is over."

President Trump has landed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base and is on his way to Wheeler High School.

The president had previously been at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware, where he took part in a dignified transfer of four soldiers killed in the Middle East.

State Sen. Greg Dolezal, R-Cumming, used his remarks ahead of President Donald Trump's appearance to promote the administration's "Trump Accounts" initiative, describing it as an investment in children and their future.

"Find something better," Dolezal said. "That is what America has always expected of her free people, not merely to preserve what they inherited, but to build something better. And that is the promise of Trump Accounts."

Dolezal said the program is about investing in children who will "build America's next chapter."

He also contrasted Republican and Democratic priorities, saying Republicans focus on encouraging entrepreneurship, innovation and ownership, while Democrats favor expanding government. Dolezal described the difference as "a nation of dependents or a nation of builders.

"The Republican lawmaker closed by saying he believes the country is "in a fight to save Western civilization" and argued that preserving the American dream begins with Georgia.

A number of high-profile Georgia and federal officials are scheduled to speak ahead of President Trump during the visit to metro Atlanta.

Alveda King, the niece of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave the opening prayer after Cobb County Schools Superintendent Chris Ragsdale welcomed the crowd.

Scheduled speakers from Georgia included state Sen. Greg Dolezal, who is running for lieutenant governor in November, and gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson.

U.S. Small Business Administration head Kelly Loeffler, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, and Treasury Sec. Scott Bessett are also scheduled to speak.

An attendee waiting outside the high school before President Trump's appearance said one of the biggest reasons for the excitement was the administration's effort to create investment accounts for children.

"It's really about the Trump accounts, to be completely honest," the attendee said. "Putting 34,000 people in just Cobb County alone in a position to be investors from birth, that's worth celebrating."

The attendee estimated the program could result in roughly $34 to $35 million being invested on behalf of children in Cobb County."We're here to celebrate that and be excited about what's happening with these accounts," the attendee said.

The attendee also said they expect Trump to continue emphasizing election integrity during his remarks, calling it an issue that remains important to many voters.

"It's definitely a source of voter concern, so I think that he's going to continue with that message," the attendee said. "I think it parlays into really focusing on the SAVE Act and getting that passed, so I think there's some parallels to the conversation for sure." 

Despite the heat, the size of the crowd protesting President Trump has grown over the last several hours.

Both the Cobb Democratic Committee and Indivisible Cobb planned separate rallies in Marietta leading up to Mr. Trump's event. 

Demonstrators were critical of Trump's immigration policies, the Trump savings accounts, the War in Iran and claims over election fraud in the 2020 Presidential election.

Supporters packed Wheeler High School while waiting for President Trump to land in Georgia.

Most of the high school and elementary school's parking lots were fulled by 11 a.m., long before the president was set to arrive.

Inside the high school gymnasium, a large banner reading "Powering the American dream" stands above a podium where Mr. Trump is expected to speak on Wednesday afternoon.

Trump has left Delaware in Air Force One and is on his way to the Peach State now.

According to the White House, several major companies—including Charles Schwab, Visa, Uber, and Dell Technologies—are matching employee contributions to Trump Accounts. 

Tech philanthropists Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion to support 25 million children, with other donors and states also contributing to help kids build financial security.

Georgia GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Jackson plans to attend President Trump's event at Wheeler High School in Cobb County. 

Jackson's appearance at the event highlights the president's ongoing influence in Georgia politics as the 2026 midterm elections approach.

While Mr. Trump endorsed Jackson's opponent, Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, in the runoff, he congratulated Jackson on his victory last month, writing that the billionaire, "very successfully campaigned on being 'TRUMP,' and won."

Read the full article here.

The president's "Trump Accounts" opened nationwide on July 4.

According to the White House, the accounts provide $1,000 for every American child born between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2028. 

The Trump administration says the accounts are aimed at helping parents and guardians save for their children's futures and marks a key part of Trump's economic agenda under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

President Trump attended the dignified transfer of four U.S. service members killed in the Middle East before leaving Dover, Delaware, for metro Atlanta.

The president was at Dover Air Force Base where the remains of troops killed in action are returned to their families

Trump plans to speak at Wheeler High School in Marietta this afternoon to promote investment accounts he said could lift children out of poverty and give more Americans the chance to benefit from investments in the stock market.

The accounts offer $1,000 in seed money to every child born during his second term. The accounts went live July 4, two days before the president rang the opening bells for both the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ from the Oval Office.

The tax-advantaged accounts, created last year through Trump's signature One Big Beautiful Bill, can be opened for any child under the age of 18.

The U.S. Treasury Department said there were 6.5 million sign-ups for Trump Accounts, with 1.5 million of those eligible for the $1,000 seed funding for babies born from 2025 through 2028.

Read more here.

As President Trump heads to metro Atlanta, supporters and opponents have gathered in Cobb County.

A long line of people stretched outside Wheeler High School, waiting to enter the building and hear the president speak.

About a half dozen protesters from the Cobb Democratic Committee held signs. The group had been at the school since the morning.

Police have shut down some of the nearby roads. Drivers should expect traffic delays for the next several hours and are recommended to take alternative routes.