Former President Donald Trump embarked on a political swing through the West, which included his first campaign rally since his conviction at his New York hush money trial. The rally, held in Las Vegas, followed a series of fundraising events and a town hall in Arizona.

At a fundraiser hosted by longtime ally Don Ahern, a construction equipment tycoon, Trump rallied his supporters and laid out his plans to shift the narrative to his general election message. This comes after a seven-week-long criminal trial that resulted in his conviction on 34 felony counts related to a hush money scheme involving a porn star prior to the 2016 election.

During his visit to Las Vegas, the Trump campaign unveiled its new initiative called "Latino Americans for Trump" coalition. With recent polling showing a noticeable shift in Hispanic voters' support towards Trump, the campaign aims to increase its outreach to this demographic ahead of the November election. Nevada, a state with a significant Latino electorate, could prove crucial in Trump's bid for the White House as it has backed the Democratic nominee in the last four elections, with Joe Biden winning by only 2 points in 2020.

The Trump campaign is optimistic about its chances in Nevada, citing the Covid-19 pandemic as a contributing factor. The state, heavily reliant on tourism and hospitality, was severely impacted by the pandemic. There are also plans to collaborate with the powerful Culinary Workers Union, which recently unendorsed several Democratic state lawmakers due to their votes against Covid-era cleaning requirements in the casino industry.

Immigration, crime, and the economy are expected to be central themes in Trump's speech in Las Vegas. The former president and his team view immigration as a vulnerability for Biden and criticize his executive action to potentially shut down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers. Trump pledged to revoke these new asylum restrictions if reelected.

Nevada is not only a key battleground state in the presidential race but also home to a highly competitive Senate contest. Democratic incumbent Jacky Rosen is seeking a second term, and Trump has yet to endorse any candidate in the heated GOP Senate primary. Sources suggest that there is now doubt he will do so before the intraparty election on Tuesday.

The Trump campaign is taking additional precautions for the rally in Las Vegas due to extreme heat, with temperatures expected to reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Emergency medical staff, misting fans, water stations, cooling tents, and additional metal detectors are being provided to ensure the safety and comfort of attendees. This comes after 12 people were hospitalized due to heat-related illness at a previous campaign event in Phoenix.

As the election season continues, Trump remains vocal about his conviction, calling it "rigged" and demanding the courts overturn it. He also refuses to back down from his threats of retaliation against his political opponents if he wins the presidency.

Overall, Trump's rally in Las Vegas and the launch of the "Latino Americans for Trump" coalition reflect his campaign's efforts to expand his base of support, particularly among Hispanic voters, as he aims to secure victory in November.