Former President Donald Trump appeared amused by the name of Virginia Senate candidate Hung Cao during a campaign stop in the politician’s home state.
“He’s a great gentleman. I love his name: Hung Cao,” said Trump, 78, at a Vietnamese restaurant in Virginia alongside the candidate, who moved to the state via West Africa as a refugee after the Vietnam War.
“I love that name. And that name alone can get you elected,” a visibly emotional Trump said during Monday’s event, drawing laughter from the crowd and even from Cao, 52.
“It’s really an honor to be with you,” Trump told those gathered at Truong Tien Vietnamese restaurant in Falls Church, with the Republican newcomer poised to face Democrat Tim Kaine, positioned to his right. “Thank you.”
In a speech in which the former commander-in-chief also compared Joe Biden’s alleged laziness to the hard-working nature of Vietnamese Americans, Trump mostly praised Cao, eventually prompting a chant of “U.S.A.”
“He’s a great gentleman. I love his name: Hung Cao,” said Trump, 78, at a Vietnamese restaurant in Virginia alongside the Senate candidate, who moved to the state via West Africa as a refugee after the Vietnam War.
Cao, a Republican, will face Tim Kaine in the state Senate election in November. Trump, shown here with the candidate during a meeting this year, has emerged as one of his staunchest supporters.
“I don’t know what it is. You’ll have to explain it. But the Vietnamese community loves me and I love them,” Trump told the crowd of supporters gathered at the city’s Eden Center restaurant on Monday morning.
De Cao said: “We think he has a good chance of winning the Senate. And I really do.”
“I hope his community comes out and really supports him, 100 percent,” he said.
“Because you can win. You can win. You can definitely win. And we want to win the state. And I think we’re going to do it.”
Cao, a retired Navy captain who came to the U.S. in the 1970s, proceeded to address the crowd in Vietnamese and English.
“It’s a great honor for me to represent the Vietnamese-American community. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the capture of Saigon,” he said of the takeover of the South Vietnamese capital by North Vietnam and the Viet Cong on April 30, 1975.
“And we’ll have the first Vietnamese American senator on the anniversary,” the Republican said.
Trump, in turn, praised the political newcomer, who since moving to the town of Purcellville has been an active member of his community and his church.
“I love that name. And that name alone can get you elected,” a visibly emotional Trump said during Monday’s event, drawing laughter from the crowd and even from Cao, 52.
“The most important thing about (his name) is that, actually,” Trump said of his Vietnamese-American ally, “he’s extraordinary. He ran a great primary campaign. I supported him from the beginning and he did very well.”
“The most important thing (by name), actually,” Trump said of his Vietnamese-American ally, “is tremendous.”
‘He ran a great primary campaign. I supported him from the beginning and he did very well.
“We’re seeing polls that show us an advantage in this state, which traditionally is not necessarily for Republicans,” Trump said at one point.
“But I’m not your average Republican… and neither are you.”
Cao, a father of five, is set to take on Kaine in November, in a race in which, at the time of writing, Kaine holds a substantial lead.
That said, as Trump indicated, the situation could change, as Cao presents himself as a moderate conservative with Christian values, as well as a former veteran who served in the US military.
That stay came shortly after Cao arrived in the United States following the fall of Saigon in 1975, when he moved there as a small child.
At one point in his speech, Trump contrasted Biden’s supposed laziness with the hard-working Vietnamese people, telling viewers: “We’re closer to World War III than we’ve ever been. And we’ve got a man who just took a vacation in California and came back today.”
Cao, a father of five, presents himself as a moderate conservative with Christian values, as well as a former veteran who served in the U.S. Navy.
His service came shortly after Cao’s arrival in the United States following the fall of Saigon in 1975, when he moved there as a young child.
Trump even criticized Joe Biden while praising the Vietnamese, saying, “Where is he going?” just over a month after he dropped out of the race.
“Delaware, another vacation, another week gone,” he added, with Cao at his side. “Those are not the Vietnamese, they are hard workers.” Biden and first lady Jill Biden are seen disembarking Air Force One at Dover Air Force Base before departing for Rehoboth Beach earlier in the day.
On Monday, Trump even criticized Joe Biden, saying, “Where is he going?”, just over a month since he dropped out of the presidential race.
“Delaware, another holiday, another week away,” he added, with Cao at his side. “Those are not the Vietnamese, they are very hard-working.”
The former president proceeded to sign autographs and speak at length with customers, with Cao at his side the entire time.
“Make America great again!” a diner shouted in a thick Vietnamese accent, eliciting a smile and a laugh from the former president.
Trump, meanwhile, will face Vice President Kamala Harris in November.