Donald Trump's 2016 campaign was based on his ability to fill stadiums and fields with supporters. He took control of a small city for his first early-state rally of 2024. On Saturday, Trump put on a show of strength by taking over a town's Main Street that looked like it belonged in a movie set in the hills of South Carolina. This was not just in his bastion of rural America, but also in an early primary state where he is still the favourite.
Trump invaded the home states of Sen. Tim Scott and Nikki Haley, two of his main rivals, in front of a throng that local officials believed may have topped 50,000. The size and fervour of Trump's crowd was the most recent warning flag for them as well as for his main competitor, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is frantically attempting to steal some of Trump's supporters in this first-in-the-South primary state.
Trump once more seemed to overshadow the competition in the concert-like setting, where thousands stood for hours and several were ill from the July heat. Trump addressed the gathering while a dramatic musical soundtrack played in the background. "It was hardworking patriots like you who built this country, and it is hardworking patriots like you who are going to save our country," he said. A sweat-covered woman moved to the music while raising her crimson Gatorade to the heavens. To cope with the heat, a man in a wheelchair took off his shirt. Trump said, "Our final battle is in 2024." "The forgotten men and women will no longer be forgotten under our leadership."
People came from nearby counties and other states to see the twice-indicted former president, whose presence in the 3-square-mile community caused businesses to close and burden the city's resources. Trump announced the event two weeks ago after his campaign, with assistance from Republican state elected officials, persuaded the city to agree to Secret Service closures surrounding its major commercial district. Trump seized on the city's long-planned annual Independence Day festival.
It starkly contrasted the gathering DeSantis attended in South Carolina last week, which was a more somber occasion when he answered questions in a North Augusta community center.
In Pickens, locals sought to rent out $50 parking spaces in their front yards while merchants set up shop days in advance. Some guests spent the night camped out beside the entrance gate. On Saturday, the entrepreneurially inclined sold hot dogs, bottled drinks and camping chairs while they stood in the queue to get in. Participants in the rally tore up cardboard boxes to create fans, while the Trump team hurriedly circulated pallets of water and Gatorade to refresh the audience. When Trump's jet sailed by at around 11 a.m., the street erupted in applause. The Greenville school choir that was recently barred from performing the national anthem in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol did perform. Boos frequently overpowered Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has embraced Trump.
Tena Stark, a Pickens native who currently resides in Tennessee, stated of her attitude towards the Republican primary field, "I was open." But I've already made up my mind. I believe he is the strongest candidate for the position. Bruce, her husband, claimed that Trump was the only candidate who could persuade him to fly four hours and arrive at a rally at 4:45 a.m. He said he liked the Florida contender but believes DeSantis needs "more time" to be ready to manage the office of president after momentarily forgetting DeSantis' name.
Trump's choice of venue for his rally could scarcely have been more advantageous. With approximately 75% of the vote, Pickens County gave Donald Trump the most support in South Carolina during the 2020 election. But his presence here was a warning shot in a crucial primary state with two local candidates.
The former governor of the state, Haley, and the junior senator, Scott, are under a lot of pressure to do well in their home territory. South Carolina is also one among the early states where the former president enjoys strong establishment backing, in contrast to the other early states where Trump is also leading in the polls. The state's governor, senior senator, and three congressmen have all endorsed him, which is something that nationally and statewide elected Republicans have so far refrained from doing in Nevada, New Hampshire, and Iowa.
Former Lt. Governor Andre Bauer, who also backed Trump, stated on stage, "This state picks presidents." "When we band together and support someone in this way, it says a lot about the eventual nominee,"
When Trump entered the stage, the audience had already started to dwindle, with an apparent exodus of his fans seeking refuge from the sweltering sun, cool beverages, and shade. Owner of Main Street Pizzeria Walter Ford first attempted to utilise Facebook to pre-sell parking spaces at his establishment and thought about selling pizza by the slice to onlookers, but he finally gave up and chose to "take the loss" by closing. Ford claimed not to be angry, describing the gathering as a "historic event for our little city."
The disturbance was also significant. The Pickens police chief stated to the neighbourhood daily that his officers had to research "every parking lot in this city" to determine how to handle the enormous gathering. And perhaps most significantly, Trump himself paid a visit to the Pickens County Courier last week to grant the weekly publication an exclusive interview, referring to Pickens as "my area."
That's who I adore, Trump told journalist Jason Evans. We're going to set some records. We'll smash them together. Trump had his first event for the 2024 election in Waco, Texas, in March. However, this was Trump's first speech in a state with an early nomination period after one slated for Iowa in May was abruptly postponed due to inclement weather.
Trump detailed his complaints about the several criminal charges that are still outstanding against him in his speech on Saturday, which was to be followed by the city's customary Fourth of July celebrations and fireworks. For then an hour, Trump bashed President Joe Biden while also briefly criticising DeSantis. The audience sometimes booed when Trump criticised DeSantis' record on farming.
The lavish July 4 celebrations Trump has participated in recently include his speech at Mount Rushmore in 2020 and his "Salute to America" event on the National Mall in 2019, which made him the first president to deliver an Independence Day address there in 68 years.
Former Greenville County Republican Party head Nate Leupp claimed that several Republicans he knew were attending out of pure curiosity in the event's planning and logistics. Before the event, Leupp remarked, "This one being outside in a tiny rural community has gotten a lot of people interested in it. "I've heard of a lot of people wanting to go just for that reason,"