(KNSI) — Former President and current GOP Presidential nominee Donald Trump and his running mate Senator JD Vance spoke to thousands of supporters who waited hours in the blistering sun and 90-degree heat for a seat inside the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.
People started getting in line on Friday night to make sure they got one of the best seats in the house. Erin Broseth and her husband Chris drove from Corcoran and started waiting at 7:50 on Saturday morning. She told KNSI News they’ve regretted missing other Trump rallies and felt compelled to come. “We just want to show our support. I mean, he’s been through hell and back for the American people. And I feel like, especially after that assassination attempt, we just want to be here for him, and he deserves us in person. We’ve been with Trump since 2016.”
Jerry and his wife Judy had a short trip from their home in St. Cloud and were also in line Saturday morning. Jerry spoke with KNSI News and explained why he’s backing the president. “I think that America has really gone downhill the last four years. And we need to turn it around and get it back in the right direction.”
Jake Judd/KNSI News
Gary drove up from Champlin and talked about why he supports the former president and feels he is the best candidate to turn the nation around. “He does what he says. He’s not a politician. And he’s a straight shooter. And I think he’s on a mission to take control of this country and set it on the path of good.”
More than 8,000 people filled the arena to the rafters, with about 2,000 more who couldn’t get inside and watched from the parking lot on a big screen.
Vance warmed up the crowd, touting the team’s plans to finish the border wall and begin mass deportations of illegal immigrants. “I have a message. A very simple message to the millions of illegal aliens who are in this country and shouldn’t be. If you’re here, start packing your bags right now because Donald J. Trump is coming back into Office.”
Jake Judd/KNSI News
Trump spoke for 96 minutes, touching on inflation, border security, and trade with China. He also focused on Vice President Kamala Harris’ actions freeing criminals in Minnesota during the riots. “Kamala urged her followers to donate to the so-called Minnesota Freedom Fund. Helping raise $35 million to set loose violent offenders after they shot at police, looted your stores, sexually assaulted innocent victims and committed all sorts of other heinous crimes.”
The crowd erupted when he compared what the nation could be like under his leadership versus Kamala Harris. “A Kamala Harris presidency means four more years of extremism, weakness, failure, and chaos. A Trump victory will bring back leadership, competence, common sense and strength to the Oval Office.”
This was Trump’s first campaign visit to the state this election cycle. He spoke at the Lincoln Reagan Dinner in St. Paul in May. It comes shortly after several polls showed Minnesota is in play for the Republicans in the 2024 election. It’s been placed in the “leans Democrat” category. The traditionally blue state hasn’t supported a Republican for president since Richard Nixon in 1972.
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