Small crowd, no problem: Trump rally in Asheville an intimate affair

ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Thousands of supporters waited in a long line in the sun to see former United States President Donald J. Trump speak at a rally stop in downtown Asheville on Wednesday afternoon. Many would have to wait for another opportunity to see Trump because Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, located inside Harrah’s Cherokee Center, has a capacity of just 2,431.  

Trump, the current Republican presidential candidate, was scheduled to hit the stage at 4 p.m. People had been waiting in line since before noon that afternoon. Awaiting the 45th president of the United States on stage that afternoon were two big signs that read, “No tax on Social Security” and “No tax on tips.” Both issues have been campaign staples for the Trump/Vance ticket, the latter becoming a part of the Harris/Walz campaign talking points since being made public in Nevada over the weekend.

Chants of “We love Trump” and “USA, USA, USA” greeted Trump, who stood and watched feet from the dais when he took the stage. It only took him two minutes to start bad-mouthing current presidential opponent Kamala Harris, calling her “crazy” , a “socialist lunatic,” and making fun of her laugh, former opponent Joseph R. Biden and current vice presidential candidate Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, calling him a “clown”.

“They are a threat to democracy,” he said of the current President and Vice President of the United States. “Can you imagine, 83 days from now, we’re almost there. We’re going to defeat Kamala Harris and we’re going to win back the White House.”

Trump added that he doesn’t think that Harris can’t win this election. “We’re going to beat her and maybe they will find another candidate,” Trump said. “I personally don’t think they will do well.”

The economy was the first topic he started with, stating that “they say the economy is very important right now” and that the country is currently a “banana republic.”

He made statements about rebuilding the “American Dream”, inflation, and lowering taxes and prices of food.

“The Harris price hike has cost the typical American household $20,000,” Trump said. He asked the crowd if they were better off financially with him out of the White House. “We’ll bring back the American dream bigger and better than before,” Trump said.

During his speech, Trump mentioned that a number of foreign dictators were friendly with the United States under his administration. He also insisted that he would reduce government spending, lower taxes, upgrade border security, and become totally energy-independent as a country.
Before Trump took the stage, several speakers testified about how life was much better when Trump was in office. Glenda Wilson, a 73-year-old retired juvenile counselor, spoke about being able to pay her bills and save money under the Trump administration. She said she might have to move in with her adult children because of the high costs. 

“I want to live in a Trump America again,” Wilson said. “The current administration cares nothing about how we live.” 

Retired law enforcement officer and restaurant owner Jeff Willis echoed Wilson’s concerns and added that his business was also better off when Trump was president. Neither he nor Wilson mentioned Vance during their five minutes on stage. 

North Carolina Congressman Chuck Edwards, Senator Ted Budd, who did mention Vance as a friend and colleague, and Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson all took turns speaking about how Trump needs to be sent back to the White House. Robinson, who is in a tight race with Josh Stein for the state’s top seat, went as far as to say that the Republican Party has an obligation to help get Trump back in office.

“The Republican Party is the party that will make North Carolina great again,” added Robinson, who said he and his wife have been harassed for their political views. 

“People should be able to work and run a business without fear of reprisal from their government,” he said. 

Other than a campaign stop in Montana last week, he hadn’t been on the campaign trail in a week but did speak to the media at Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida. Another press conference is scheduled for Bedminster, New Jersey on Thursday, a day before the Harris/Walz campaign makes its way to Raleigh for one of its last campaign rallies before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago next week.

The Trump/Vance ticket was in Atlanta earlier this month, and Vance is scheduled to deliver remarks in Milwaukee, the location of the Republican National Convention, on Friday, according to the campaign. Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and to a certain extent, Georgia and North Carolina, are still in play as battleground states. 

Prior to the rally in North Carolina, the Trump campaign had to pay the City of Asheville $82,247.60, including a fee of $22,500 for renting Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. In anticipation of the rally, which was announced on the city’s website, several road closures were announced. 

Trump was recently released from Twitter jail by Elon Musk and co-hosted a Spaces with the South African billionaire for more than two hours on Monday. 

Democratic vice presidential pick Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, took to the campaign trail beginning on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Walz, best known as a purveyor of joy and doing for your neighbor while on the trail with United States Vice President Kamala Harris, also crisscrossed the country, visiting Newport Beach (CA), Denver, Boston, Newport, Rhode Island, and Southampton, New York. The Harris/Walz ticket recently spent ad money in Georgia, debuting new billboards on major highways in Atlanta, Macon, and Savannah.

Post Debate Notes:

Shout out to Nicole at All Day Darling, a beautiful, local restaurant located a couple of blocks away from Harrah’s Cherokee Center. With my laptop down to single-digits worth of power, she helped me charge it behind the counter. If she is any reflection of the people of Asheville, then that is a wonderful place to live.

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