Inside Trump’s Rally

WILDWOOD – Crowds flooded into this seaside resort for a chance to see President Donald Trump at his first political rally in New Jersey, Jan. 28.
“I love New Jersey, and I’m thrilled to be back right here in the Garden State,” Trump said, taking the stage at the Wildwoods Convention Center a little after 7 p.m.
“Together, we’re achieving historic victories for New Jersey families. You see it every single day. The New Jersey unemployment rate has reached the lowest of all time. More people are working today in the State of New Jersey than ever before,” he told the crowd.
Speaking for about an hour, Trump touted a list of accomplishments, praised the economy and criticized Democrats, the media and others. He lauded U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd), a former Democrat, who requested a South Jersey rally after changing parties late in 2019.
Embracing Van Drew, Trump called him a great guy who loves the military, veterans and police, and favors less regulation.
“Jeff, it’s an honor to be with you,” Trump said.
“How about having the president right here in South Jersey?” said Van Drew, to thunderous applause. “What a great day.”
In brief comments, Van Drew spoke of American greatness, calling it the greatest civilization the world has ever known, and punctuated each statement with the question, “Do we want to keep it that way?,” drawing a loud response each time.
Van Drew described 2020 as a flashpoint election.
“I say to all of you, may God bless South Jersey, may God bless our president, and may God bless the United States of America,” Van Drew said.
Trump lavished praise on the American military.
“Thanks to the incredible courage of our warriors, the greatest warriors in the world, the ISIS caliphate has been totally destroyed and its savage founder, and leader, al-Baghdadi, is dead,” he said.
He also described the drone strike that killed Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani in Iraq Jan. 3 as flawless, and said Soleimani was responsible for murdering and injuring thousands of Americans and was planning new attacks.
“Yet, Washington Democrats – like crazy Bernie Sanders and nervous Nancy Pelosi – they opposed our action to save American lives. They oppose it,” Trump said.
Trump also introduced Kellyanne Conway, a counselor to the president and a South Jersey native.
“Mr. President, I think South Jersey is Trump country,” she said.
South Jersey welcomed Trump with rapturous cheers and chants of “U-S-A,” “four more years,” and “build the wall.” Although many had an arduous night and spent the day waiting in line, the energy was high inside the hall.
Little mention was made of the ongoing impeachment trial in the Senate, the third in American history, in which the defense completed its opening statements that day. In Wildwood, Trump called the process a hoax.
“The American people are disgusted by the Washington Democrats. You see it. Which is worse, the impeachment hoax or the witch hunts from Russia? We’re going to be signing up millions and millions of registered independents, Democrat voters,” Trump said. “Today, I had the best polls that I’ve ever had since being elected.”
He joked that he only used to talk about polls when his were good.
Earlier in the speech, Trump described Van Drew as one of the few brave and principled Democrats who stood up to what he described as an abuse of power.
“They can’t win an election, so they’re trying to steal an election. It’s not happening, folks. Jeff had the guts to defy the left-wing fanatics in his own party, and to stand tall in defense of our Constitution, our freedom, and democracy itself,” Trump said.
There was no mention of recent revelations about a book by former National Security Advisor John Bolton that has roiled the impeachment debate, although, the next day, the president slammed Bolton’s judgment on Twitter, suggesting that if he listened to Bolton, the nation would be in “World War Six” by now.
Several local Republican officials could be seen in the crowd. Trump said he had many friends there, pointing out former Gov. Chris Christie and New Jersey Republican State Committee Chairman Doug Steinhardt. Sen. Michael Testa (R-1st) gave remarks before the president arrived.
Far more tickets were requested than the capacity of the Convention Center. Some began to line up Jan. 26. According to Tim Murtaugh, director of communications for the Trump campaign, as many as 2,000 slept outside near the ocean the night before to get inside the event.
Screens were set up for the overflow crowd.
Inside, Paul Baldini, of Sea Isle City, described the mood as jubilant. Joined by his son, Paul Baldini Jr., he said spirits remained high throughout the day, with the crowd singing despite chilly, gray skies and cutting wind.
Several sources said more than 100,000 tickets were requested for the event. During his comments, Trump said the final number was at 175,000 tickets requested, citing Van Drew as the source of that number.
The event was held in a hall with a capacity of about 7,400. Ben Rose, director of marketing and public relations, Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA), provided a “conservative estimate.”
He said there were 7,400 inside and 4,500-5,000 outside. He noted capacity for a concert is typically 7,500, but the media platform took up some of that space.
Rose said the Convention Center was deemed at capacity for the event. He explained that the Cape May County Fire Marshal set the number allowed inside, and that the U.S. Secret Service monitored it, and ultimately made the call as to when capacity was reached.
Rose added that Trump’s campaign paid the price to rent the Convention Center for the event.
Throughout the speech, Trump attacked several favorite targets. When he pointed to the risers packed with photographers and television cameras, calling the media “fake,” the crowd cheerfully booed, but the sharpest attacks were reserved for Democrats.
“Democrats stand for crime, corruption and chaos. Republicans stand for law, order and justice, and say what you want, but those are the facts,” Trump said.
He alleged that cities run by Democrats are in terrible shape, citing Los Angeles, and suggested Democrats favor socialism and open borders.
“On no issue have Washington Democrats thoroughly betrayed the American people than the issue of immigration. Left-wing, radical, politicians support deadly sanctuary cities,” he said.
Trump also touted plans to build a wall along the southern border of the United States, blaming delays in that project on Democrats in Congress. He said progress is going fast, and that 100 miles of wall has been completed.
“By next year, we’ll be over 400 miles, and shortly thereafter, it will be complete,” he said. The border between the U.S. and Mexico stretches 1,954 miles. Some sections have been fenced for years.
He also praised the Mexican government, calling Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador a friend, and praising action by the Mexican military to interdict migrants heading north from Honduras and other nations.
We like Mexico very much, and we’ve gotten along great with Mexico, and the president’s a friend of mine, and I think he’s doing a fantastic job. It’s a tough situation, but Mexico is, in fact, you will soon find out, paying for the wall. OK?” Trump said.
Trump said previous politicians promised to protect American workers, but closed factories and shipped jobs overseas.
“Not anymore, because we are defenseless no more, because, at long last, you have a president who puts America first,” he said.
Local officials have touted the economic effect of the presidential visit.
Several people said local businesses were busy through the day and after the rally.
With the parking lots along the beach shut down as staging areas for the rally, and as a space for protesters nearby, parking was at a premium, with many walking for about a mile to reach the venue.
One man said he paid $30 for a space on the street nearby when someone offered to pull out, while other visitors, unused to the shore in winter, tried to figure out how to put money in parking meters that were off for the winter.
To contact Bill Barlow, email bbarlow@cmcherald.com.