As Halloween approaches, former President Donald Trump is encountering unexpected challenges with his planned rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Unpaid bills from a previous rally in 2019 have cast a shadow over his campaign, complicating his efforts to secure a venue for the upcoming event.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that Trump’s campaign aimed to use the Albuquerque Convention Center for the Halloween rally. However, city officials revealed that plans fell through due to a significant unpaid bill of nearly $445,000 from Trump’s prior rally. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller stated, “If you’re not going to pay your bills, we’re just not going to entertain you using city facilities, and that’s the way it should be.”
This issue is not isolated to Albuquerque. Numerous cities across the country are seeking to recover unpaid fees from Trump’s campaign stops over the past decade. According to an NBC News analysis, Trump owes more than $750,000 to municipalities in Texas and Pennsylvania for police and security services at his rallies.
Compounding these financial troubles, the Albuquerque Convention Center was also undergoing planned maintenance when Trump’s campaign sought to secure it. City officials were not inclined to assist the former president in finding an alternative venue, emphasizing the need for any organization or candidate to settle outstanding debts before utilizing city-owned facilities. “For us to consider the fact that we’re half a million dollars short is something we would do for any candidate or anyone who wants to rent the convention center in general,” Mayor Keller reiterated.
With the rally scheduled just five days before a crucial election that is widely anticipated to hinge on seven key swing states, Trump’s struggle to secure a venue has raised eyebrows. In the 2020 election, he lost New Mexico by nearly 11 points, adding further complexity to his campaign’s attempts to regain traction in the state.
