President Donald Trump used a White House Hispanic Heritage Month celebration Wednesday to tout his administration’s economic record, defend its immigration crackdown and urge Hispanic Americans to support Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.
Speaking in the East Room, Trump praised Hispanic Americans as hardworking and patriotic while arguing that his policies are putting more money in the pockets of working families.
“Under the Trump administration, that American dream is back, and it’s bigger and better than ever before,” Trump said.
Trump highlighted his administration’s tax changes involving tips, overtime and Social Security, saying Hispanic families and small-business owners were seeing “thousands and thousands of extra dollars in their pocket.”
The president also acknowledged that he has struggled to communicate his economic record.
“I’ve done a very bad job of explaining how good the country is doing,” Trump said, while maintaining that “the country’s doing better than it has ever done.”
Immigration dominated much of Trump’s remarks
The president defended his administration’s aggressive border enforcement and deportation policies while acknowledging the political pressure surrounding them.
“Frankly, it’s the hardest job that I’ve had,” Trump said. “The hardest job, because they’ll say you’re too tough or you’re too soft.”
Trump has pointed to the dramatic decline in apprehensions at the southern border as evidence that his policies are working.
The administration’s approach, however, has drawn criticism from some Hispanic Americans and Democratic lawmakers, who argue that expanded interior enforcement has created fear in Hispanic communities.
Rubio: “We are Americans”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose parents immigrated from Cuba, delivered a message focused on American identity and patriotism.
“As Hispanic Americans, we are Americans. We love this country,” Rubio said.
Rubio emphasized the experience of Hispanic families who came to the United States seeking freedom and opportunity, saying many understand the value of America because they or their parents and grandparents know “what life is like in other countries.”
The White House has similarly emphasized faith, family and freedom in its Hispanic Heritage Month message, while pointing to tax cuts and economic opportunity as central elements of Trump’s agenda.
Hispanic poverty reaches record low
The administration can point to several economic indicators in making its case to Hispanic Americans.
The U.S. Census Bureau reported this month that the official Hispanic poverty rate fell from 15.1% in 2024 to 13.9% in 2025, the lowest level recorded in the bureau’s current series.
The broader economy remains mixed. Real GDP grew at an annualized 1.5% rate in the second quarter of 2026, down from 2.1% in the first quarter.
A political event as well as a celebration
The White House gathering also took on an unmistakably political tone.
Trump urged supporters to help Republicans in the November midterms and said he would return to the campaign trail because Republicans “need the votes.” He warned that Democrats would reverse his administration’s border policies if Republicans lose congressional support.
The event also took an unexpected turn when Trump discussed construction of the new White House ballroom.
Warning attendees about the unfinished construction site, Trump noted that there was “no fencing … no nothing” before joking, “And only Hispanic could survive that fall.” Some attendees cheered.
Trump also discussed foreign policy, including the withdrawal of the final U.S. forces from Iraq, which he described as ending a long-running “quagmire.”
For Trump, the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration provided an opportunity to make a broader political argument: that Hispanic Americans can preserve their heritage while embracing American patriotism, economic opportunity and tougher immigration enforcement.
The response from Hispanic Americans remains divided, with supporters pointing to border security, tax policy and economic indicators, while critics continue to raise concerns about immigration enforcement and its effects on Hispanic families.
The White House event put those competing views on display — while giving Trump a national platform to make his case directly to Hispanic Americans ahead of the midterm elections.
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