PHOENIX, Arizona – Dozens of attendees were already lining up Friday evening outside the Arizona Federal Theatre in anticipation of the “Protect Our Elections” rally Saturday with former President Donald Trump hosted by Turning Point Action.
It will be Trump’s first rally in the election battleground state, and Phoenix lies in Maricopa County where “America’s Audit” on the November 2020 election is being conducted.
Most of the early arrivers to the rally were enthusiastically planning to spend the night out on the sidewalk, despite the weather forecast that included thunderstorms during the overnight after a day that started that way and continued with rain showers throughout most of the day.
Many of the Trump supporters traveled from California, taking advantage of the closest proximity that Trump usually gets to their home state.
Blake from San Diego, California, was easily recognizable as an attendee at Trump’s first post-COVID rally that The Star News Network also attended in June 2020 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as he was once again wearing his trademark brick-wall suit and tie, in homage of Trump’s signature campaign issue in 2016.
Paul, who moved to Phoenix just two months ago from Brooklyn, New York had pitched a tent for the overnight and was fast making friends with the neighbors who would be camping beside him. He told The Star News Network that it was the free-for-all crime and the recent loss of both of his two roommates resulting from the “defund the police” movement that put him in a position of having to leave everything behind to relocate.
Two ardent Trump supporters with a large Trump banner, originally from Vietnam, drove together from their community in southern California, where they protest regularly to push back against the radical left’s agenda.
A gold-faced, Trump-like figure dressed in a dark suit and red tie seemed to be a crowd favorite, as several took turns taking pictures beside him.
At one point, the Trump figure was moved in front of the namesake banner and a group lined up for a photo opportunity as they chanted “U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A.”
One traveler from New Jersey attends Trump rallies in his RV, virtually covered with various flags and signs. He joins up with Trump supporters met at previous rallies who then help at his stand selling Trump memorabilia.
In the background, another vendor of all things Trump, MAGA and the like was blaring popular, upbeat and danceable music from under a pop-up canopy that periodically prompted some to spontaneously break into line dancing.
Other attendees told The Star News Network that they travelled from as far as Texas, Florida and Washington state.
Trump is scheduled to make his remarks, according to Turning Point Action, at 3 p.m. PDT on Saturday, July 24.
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Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Star News Network, where she covers stories for The Arizona Sun Times, The Tennessee Star, The Georgia Star News and The Ohio Star.
Great RALLY for POTUS. I need to get in touch with you otherwise it goes to tips