Trump votes early in Florida, backs all Republicans on ballot

US President Donald Trump voted early in Florida on Saturday, saying he had backed all Republican candidates on the ballot ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.

Trump and first lady Melania Trump cast their ballots at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections office.

Asked whether he had voted along party lines, Trump replied, “Very much so.”

The president also defended a controversial campaign advertisement by Ohio Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy that featured the estranged mother of his Democratic rival, Amy Acton.

He further defended his administration’s planned legal challenge to the certification of Alaska’s US Senate race if Republican Senator Dan Sullivan loses, reportedly over concerns that another candidate on the ballot has a very similar name.

Commenting on the war with Iran, Trump told reporters: “I may have to finish it off. Or maybe they’ll make a deal, but I’m not sure. Either way, we win.”

Meanwhile, Melania Trump was asked whether she might visit Ukraine after helping broker a ceasefire in the city of Oleshky to facilitate humanitarian aid and civilian evacuations. “We will see,” she replied.

Trump has endorsed Republican Representative Byron Donalds in the race to succeed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is barred from seeking another consecutive term.

Donalds faces David Jolly, a former Republican who later became an independent before joining the Democratic Party.