LA CROSSE, Wisc. – Unlike his usual rallies that often last over an hour, Donald Trump’s town hall event in Wisconsin on Thursday night lasted just a bit more than 30 minutes.

The former president addressed around six questions from topics like national security, inflation, immigration, and his backing for in vitro fertilization. The inquiries came from a selected audience.

Here are some key points from Trump’s town hall.

IVF becomes a key topic with Trump’s announcement

The first inquiry, posed by the moderator Tulsi Gabbard, centered around Trump’s announcement that he wishes for the government or insurers to fully cover IVF treatment costs. Gabbard shared her personal experience with infertility and how IVF had become her last resort.

Trump expressed his support for IVF, mentioning that it was something he wanted to explore weeks prior.

“It’s truly helped many families start theirs when they thought they couldn’t,” Trump remarked. “The government will either pay for it, or we will require insurance companies to cover it, which will be fantastic.”

A student inquires about rising inflation

The third question of the evening came from a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student who shared concerns over increasing grocery and gas prices, making home ownership feel unattainable.

Trump stated that America needs to position itself as “the energy capital of the world” and focus on reducing national debt, though he didn’t provide detailed plans regarding the economy.

“Your grocery prices are going to drop, interest rates will decrease, and eventually you will own a wonderful house. That’s the essence of the American dream,” Trump claimed.

A recent poll from Marquette University Law School indicated that Wisconsin voters are primarily concerned about economic issues, with 38% pointing to it as their top priority. Abortion policies and immigration issues followed, garnering 14% and 13%, respectively.

Moreover, 51% of Wisconsin voters believe Trump is better suited to manage the economy compared to Vice President Kamala Harris, who received 39% in the same regard. Harris slightly outperformed President Joe Biden in this area according to the last Marquette poll before Biden exited the race, with 52% favoring Trump and 34% preferring Biden.

Democrats highlight their economic strategies

Prior to Trump’s town hall, Democrats held a press conference aimed at holding him accountable for topics such as access to abortion, infrastructure funding, and Project 2025, a conservative plan that the Trump campaign has attempted to distance from.

Democrats expected the economy to be a focal point during the town hall and emphasized Harris’s economic initiatives. Wisconsin’s Lt. Governor Sara Rodriguez stated that Harris presents the “only real plan in this race to reduce costs for working-class families.”

Harris unveiled part of her economic strategy earlier this month, which includes up to $25,000 in assistance for first-time home buyers, a $6,000 tax credit for families with newborns, and a federal prohibition against price gouging.

Trump referred to grocery prices as “a communist plan.”

“The choice in November is quite evident. Only Vice President Harris and Governor Walz are promoting an economy that provides opportunities for all Americans. No matter if you live in a small town, rural area, or large city, every American deserves a shot at competition and success,” remarked Minnesota U.S. Senator Tina Smith.

Trump Labels Tim Walz ‘Weird’

When asked about crime by a Minnesota attendee, Trump described Democratic vice presidential candidate and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as “a weird guy, a weird dude.”

“He’s the weird one, not me,” Trump asserted while also supporting his running mate, Ohio Senator JD Vance. “We have our quirks, but weird isn’t one of them.”

Even before being picked as Harris’ running mate, Walz attracted attention from Democrats by frequently labeling Trump and Vance as “weird” during television appearances.

Town Hall Lasts Only About 30 Minutes

Trump answered around six questions, with two posed by Gabbard and four from chosen attendees.

The town hall meeting was roughly half an hour long. Typically, Trump speaks for over an hour at rallies, and his Republican National Convention speech lasted 92 minutes. (His campaign team later pointed out that the session was cut short due to an imminent storm.)

During the meeting, Trump began addressing questions relevantly but often veered off-topic. For instance, while responding to a question about inflation, he segued into false claims about election cheating and mentioned nuclear power. Similarly, a question on IVF led him to discuss immigration.

Some of the loudest applause erupted when Trump criticized Harris, including a remark about her recording a pre-taped interview with CNN on Thursday. “Why are we doing this live while she’s filming?” Trump queried the audience, despite Harris and Walz’s interview being unscripted.

La Crosse County Leaned Democratic in Last Two Elections

This year, Trump hosted three rallies in Wisconsin: in Green Bay, Waukesha, and Racine. However, this was his first visit to western Wisconsin in 2024, and it took place in a county he has lost in two previous elections.

In the 2020 election, La Crosse County voted for Biden, with about 56% of the votes compared to Trump’s 42%. Eau Claire County was the only other county in that area to support Democrats in the last election, and both counties are home to University of Wisconsin campuses.

Trump’s performance in La Crosse County was similar to 2016, where he secured roughly 41% of the votes, while Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton received about 51%.

La Crosse is located in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District, one of the state’s most competitive districts. Republican U.S. Representative Derrick Van Orden is set to run against Democratic challenger Rebecca Cooke, who emerged from a competitive primary on August 13.