“We’re taking America Back”: Donald Trump, J.D. Vance hold first joint rally in Atlanta

Welcome to MAGA city! The streets of Atlanta were consumed with overwhelming red, painted Trump faces, MAGA hats, and Trump paraphernalia on Saturday afternoon. A sea of red MAGA hats, Trump paraphernalia, flags, signs and more filled the Georgia State University Convocation Center, the site of a rally in support of United States Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday. 

Former United States President Donald J. Trump and his vice-president nominee, Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) held their first joint rally in the battleground state.

Outside of the center, lines stretched for miles as people awaited to get into the rally hours before the scheduled start time. The supporters held signs that read, “Trump/Vance”, “Never Surrender”, “Too Big Too Rig”, and of course, “Make America Great Again”. Throughout the rally, you could hear the supporters screaming “USA”, “Make America Great Again”, “We Want Trump”, and more. During intermissions, the crowd enjoyed country songs.

Trump’s campaign had several individuals speak on his behalf before the guest of honor appeared on stage, such as Congressman Mike Collins, U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, Senator David Perdue, and more. A local Black artist named ARTlanta brought a painting on stage for Trump to sign. 

Greene, a popular politician from North Georgia, had the entire rally screaming for her and she said the Trump administration and Republicans are going to “take America back” in the upcoming election.

“This has nothing to do with race, gender, or politics,” she said. “We have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, we’re so used to enjoying our normal lives doing normal things, but this time around, enough is enough.”

Greene even went as far to say Trump’s accusations and charges are all hoaxes. 

Also, Collins urged the attendees to go out and vote. “You can’t come into these meetings and rallies and not vote, we have to make every vote count come November,” Collins said.

Most of the vocal points of each speaker were about Harris, with Collins stating, “Georgia didn’t want Stacey [Abrams], and they don’t want Kamala.” 

Every time Harris’ name was mentioned, the entire stadium was engulfed in boos and jeers. Throughout the night, a banner that said “Kamala is weak, failed, and dangerously liberal” was plastered within the stadium.

Vance criticized Harris telling the crowd the former California Attorney General and senator thinks she’s better than them.

“She thinks she’s better than us, and better than you,” Vance said. “We need to tell Kamala to mind her own damn business. This is America and we believe in freedom.”

He also critiqued her “southern belle” accent during her rally Tuesday and said she isn’t loyal to America.

“Loyalty to this country is closing our borders, not opening them. Loyalty is taking a bullet for this country and Donald Trump did just that,” Vance said. “When he was shot, he didn’t falter, instead he raised his fist and said to fight. We’re going to rebuild America together.”

Vance, who has been in Congress for less than two years, also referred to Joe Biden’s former presidential campaign and Harris’ current presidential campaign and the last three and a half years of Biden’s presidency to the infamous Milli Vanilli scandal from decades earlier.

Once Trump appeared, the crowd went wild chanting his name and “We Want Trump”, whistling, clapping, and more.

“Trump gave up the easy life to make America great again. Trump wants to fight and will make this country great and thriving again,” Vance said.

Trump called Harris a “lunatic”, “the worst vice president in history,” and referred to her as “Crazy Kamala”.

“Crazy Kamala was here last week, lots of empty seats, and only brought a crowd with entertainers. I don’t need entertainers because I’ll make America Great Again,” Trump said. “She’s wrecking our nation, Joe [Biden] was the worst president in the history of our country and Crazy Kamala has been the worst vice president we have seen.”

Trump further attempted to drive his point home by saying Harris is worse than Bernie Sanders and has a very low IQ. He also addressed the CNN presidential debate with Biden in June, saying Biden was “choking like a dog and that was the end of him”.

Additionally, Trump addressed his assassination attempt by saying “it was from God and it was something incredible.”

“I think I was shot because people say I’m a threat to democracy, but actually, I’m saving democracy,” he said.

At this point, the crowd is shouting “fight, fight, fight” and slamming their feet on the bleachers chanting. This was very evident when Trump said he would never defund the police, but instead “will always overfund the police”.

Trump also said they have to go out and vote and stop the democrats from cheating.

Lastly, Trump said come November, his campaign will win and the American dream will come back better, stronger, and bigger.

“94 days from now, we’re going to win against Georgia. If we lose in Georgia, we lose it all and it’ll go to hell,” he said. “We’re going to evict this radical and incompetent administration come November. When we win, we’re going to see a Trump driven spike in everything.”

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