In a fiery speech, Donald Trump lauds previous critic, GOP Senate candidate Bernie Moreno

Former President Donald Trump campaigned for Senate hopeful Bernie Moreno in Ohio on Saturday.

Speaking at a rally on an airfield outside of Dayton, the former president rallied supporters with praise for his chosen candidate. “He's going to be a warrior in Washington," Trump said.

Buckeye Values PAC, a group supporting Moreno's candidacy, hosted Saturday's rally that demonstrated Donald Trump's significant influence within the party.

During his speech, Trump issued warnings of potential chaos if he were not elected. “If I don’t get elected, it’s going to be a bloodbath ... It’s going to be a bloodbath for the country,” he warned. He also claimed, “If this election isn’t won, I’m not sure that you’ll ever have another election in this country."

Vying for the GOP ticket, Moreno faces tough competition from Secretary of State Frank LaRose and state Sen. Matt Dolan in the upcoming GOP primary on Tuesday. LaRose and Moreno have thrown their backing behind the pro-Trump wing of the party, whereas Dolan is backed by establishment Republicans, such as Gov. Mike DeWine and former Sen. Rob Portman.

Trump's endorsement carries significant weight in a state that has traditionally leaned towards his political ideologies. Therefore, Moreno expressed admiration for Donald Trump, despite past differences.

In 2016, Moreno, a wealthy businessman from Cleveland, backed Marco Rubio for the presidency. He once said listening to Trump was like watching a bad accident that makes you sick but you can't stop looking at. In 2021, NBC News said Moreno called Trump a “lunatic” and a “maniac” in an exchange of emails.

But on Saturday, Moreno changed his tune. He voiced his support for Trump and called him a “great American.” He also got mad at people in his party who do not like Trump. “I am so sick and tired of Republicans that say, ‘I support President Trump’s policies but I don’t like the man,’" he said.

Trump's backing not only boosts Moreno's prospects but also signals a shift in dynamics within the Ohio Republican Party, with divisions emerging between pro-Trump factions and more establishment figures.

The rally served as a platform for Trump to lambast Biden's policies, particularly regarding the economy and immigration. He also criticised Dolan as a "weak RINO" and questioned his allegiance to the Republican Party.