Asheville – Wednesday, August 14th, former President Donald Trump came to Asheville. He’s doing something a little different now, in that this was not one of the huge rallies with tens of thousands of people. This was a more intimate talk at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, with a capacity to seat only 2,400.
A Large Security Presence
People were already setting up on Tuesday night, to ensure being at the front of the line, and there was a strong police presence already. A drone flew overhead, checking rooftops for any sign of trouble. Security fencing had been erected on the opposite side of the street from Harrah’s Cherokee Center, the fence put in place to keep protestors away from the rally attendees.
The last time Trump was here people were injured, some sent to the hospital, when protestors attacked them as they left the event. Chief Mike Lamb said things would be different this time, and by Wednesday morning there were APD officers, a private security firm was in place, and the secret service was arriving. People at the front of the long line observed a team with riot gear and glass shields entering the building. But it was not oppressive, it was festive. The excitement was palpable as the crowd patiently waited, occasionally chanting USA, USA, USA, or “We love Trump.”
A Very Diverse Crowd
One thing that might surprise people was the diversity of the people who came to see Trump speak. People in line wore t-shirts that said Hindus for Trump, Vietnamese Americans for Trump, Women, Blacks, Democrats, Veterans, Mexicans, and Gays for Trump. There was an actor from the show Yellowstone, a Santa Claus, and a guy who looked a lot like Geoff Bridges in the movie The Big Lebowski, wearing a Lebowski 2024 t-shirt and holding a sign that said to vote for “The Dude 2024.”
Interviews With MAGA Attendees
A woman near the front was at the rally in Butler, PA where the assassination attempt took place. Just seven rows behind Trump, Renee White of Newland, NC said, “One guy died on my right side, and a lady got injured, someone else got injured on my left side.” White watched Trump get up and say, “fight, fight, fight. “I was so happy to see him get up, and I knew he was alright. We love Trump.”
Austin Gouge from Morganton, NC, who wore a Trump Pride shirt with rainbows, advised, “Just let everyone know not to listen to what mainstream media is saying. It’s all lies. Do your research. Don’t let the democrats use us as pawns, especially the LGBTQ community. They don’t care about us, Trump does. I think he’s a good person, and I think he’s genuine.”
Larry and Gloria King, a distinguished black couple, shared their feelings about Trump. Mrs. King said, “He’s real. He’s authentic. He cares about all people—black people, white people, blue people, brown people. It doesn’t matter what color you are. Donald Trump loves America and he loves Americans, and that’s what we love about him.” Mr. King added, “We’re retired educators, but more than that we’re Americans. We’re looking to bring the nation together and not allow us to be separated by color.”
Bobbi Breabois was also at Butler, PA the day Trump was shot. She said a bullet passed by her and hit the hydraulic line on the John Deere equipment near her causing a large speaker to crash to the ground. Breasbois, a staunch democrat her entire life who voted for Obama said, “I wasn’t a Trumper, but I had to focus on the policies, not the way in which he delivered the message.” That message changed her. She added, “He gave up his paycheck, his freedom, he gave up a life he could absolutely have, for us—innocent hard working people.”
Trump’s Platform
Trump laid out his platform to “unleash economic abundance for Americans of every race, every religion, color and creed.” His plan includes the return of economic stability, restoring peace through strength, fixing the supply chain and bringing millions of jobs back to the U.S. He wants to impose tariffs on imports, reduce deficits, gain energy independence, add affordable housing, lower interest rates and energy costs so everyone can afford groceries, a car and a home, and no taxes on tips or social security. He also wants to close the border and decrease immigrant crime, clean up our schools and women’s sports, and save Medicare and Social Security.
Editor’s Note: To watch full videos of interviews go to https://www.facebook.com/thetribunepapers