ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — President Donald Trump visited Rome on Thursday as early voting continues in the special election to decide who will lead Georgia’s 14th Congressional District.

Trump touched down in Georgia shortly after 2:30 p.m. and departed for his events shortly before 3 p.m.

Around 4:30 p.m., he delivered remarks at the Coosa Steel Corporation facility after a trip to The Varsity in Rome. His remarks wrapped shortly before 5:45 p.m.

He discussed the economy and tariffs. Coosa Steel owner Andrew Saville also spoke, saying that Trump’s tariffs have benefitted him and his business.

Clay Fuller, the district attorney for the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit, spoke before Trump. Fuller is running for former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s seat and has been endorsed by the president.

Trump visited The Varsity around 3:20 p.m., his motorcade passing crowds of onlookers along the way, some waving and holding pro-Trump signs and others raising their middle fingers.

“Nice place you got here,” said Trump as he walked into the packed restaurant.

The president asked the crowd if they liked Voter ID and was met with applause.

Trump also spoke about the FBI raid on Fulton County’s elections hub.

“They came in and they took all those ballots, all those crooked ballots were taken,” he said. “Let’s see what happens. And the Democrats are fighting like hell. They don’t want anyone to see those ballots. Did you see that? Let’s see what happens. It’s a disgrace, but what are you going to do?”

Trump hugged workers behind the counter, went around shaking hands with customers and signed hats. When a man asked Trump to sign his name on what he said was a presidential lifetime achievement award signed by former President Joe Biden, Trump obliged.

He told the workers “no tax on tips” and some applauded. He pointed to one worker he said had been working for The Varsity for almost 50 years.

“She paid tax for all those years,” Trump said.

Trump gave an interview for the Josh Pate’s College Football Show podcast during his visit to The Varsity. Before the interview, he asked the crowd if they thought Biden would do a podcast interview like the one he’s doing.

Rome Mayor Jim Bojo introduced himself and shook Trump’s hand as he was leaving for Coosa Steel.

Hundreds were gathered outside the entrance of the facility with flags and signs when he arrived.

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, who got Trump’s endorsement in the Georgia gubernatorial race, and Republican Congressman Brian Jack, who represents Georgia’s 3rd congressional district, accompanied the president during his stops.

UGA quarterback Gunner Stockton and former UGA running back Herschel Walker – who was also the 2022 GOP Senate nominee for Georgia and is now the U.S. ambassador for the Bahamas – also accompanied Trump.

During his remarks at the plant, Stockton, Walker, Jones and Jack all joined Trump on stage. U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, who’s running for U.S. Senate, also joined the president on stage.

Also present during the trip were Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt and Kelly Loeffler, a former U.S. senator for Georgia and the current head of the Small Business Administration.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: President Trump visiting Georgia’s 14th district with early voting underway

Trump has made it clear that he wants Republicans to keep control of Congress. With just a slim majority, he’s campaigning for several key races that could determine the party’s future in power — including the 14th district.

Once a staunch Trump ally, Marjorie Taylor Greene held the 14th district’s seat for five years. But she stepped down in January, citing her disillusionment with Trump and some of his policies after he dubbed her a “traitor.”

Georgia’s 14th congressional district stretches from the Chattanooga, Tennessee, metropolitan area in an east/south arc toward metro Atlanta’s outlying suburbs. The district’s major population centers are Dalton (Whitfield County), Rome (Floyd County), Cartersville (Bartow County area near Paulding County) and portions of Paulding County (Dallas).

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Here’s how the election to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene will work

There are currently 18 candidates in the 14th district race — 13 Republicans, three Democrats, one Libertarian and one independent. Early voting started on Monday and runs through March 7.

Election day is March 10, but with so many people in the field, an April 7 runoff is all but certain. The winner will fill out the remainder of Greene’s congressional term through next January.

Whoever wins the November general election for the seat — whether it be the candidate who wins to fill the remainder of Greene’s term or a different candidate — will be sworn in sometime in January 2027 for the full two-year term.

This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First for updates.

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