President Donald Trump hosted another unofficial rally on Tuesday, September 8. This one was in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Local media said thousands attended the event itself, and there were even more in an overflow space outside. Here’s a look at crowd photos, overflow photos and videos and more details about how many people attended the event.
Thousands Attended the Winston-Salem Rally, Local Media Say
GettyPresident Donald Trump addresses supporters during a campaign rally at Smith-Reynolds Regional Airport.
The rally was held at the Smith-Reynolds Regional Airport in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. As with other recent events, this wasn’t called an official “rally” but was billed as a chance to see Trump deliver live remarks.
The Winston-Salem Journal Now reported that “thousands” turned out for Trump’s rally. The publication noted that the tarmac was set up for about 1,000 people. Here’s one photo of the massive crowd.
Trump just shouted, “If I am re-elected, the best is yet to come.” Followed by a crowd cheer. POTUS said he was told there are 15k people here. Number appears to be inflated, however, there are plenty of people without seats crowded together behind the media risers. #ABC11
DeJuan Hoggard of ABC 11 reported that the 15,000 number Trump quoted as attending was “inflated,” but there were many people at the event, including people without seats crowded behind the media risers.
President Trump says he was told the crowd was 15,000 at his NC Rally at the airport.
During the rally, Trump promised to remain energy independent, and he promised that the state would fully reopen its economy if he was re-elected.
There were long lines of people for hours before the event began, The Winston-Salem Journal Now reported. Herald Sun described the crowd to see Trump as “packed.”
GettyPeople wait for the arrival of President Donald Trump.
Jonah Kaplan of ABC 11 said this was the largest crowd he had seen in North Carolina in many months, including while covering George Floyd protests and Reopen North Carolina protests.
I’ve covered #ReopenNC protests, #GeorgeFloydProtests, #RaleighRiots & #RNC2020. This is largest crowd I’ve seen at any event, anywhere in #NorthCarolina, in many, many months. They’re all here for @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. @ABC11_WTVD @ABC #COVID19 #Vote2020 #ncpol #CoronavirusNC
Kaplan also shared that people attending had their temperature taken and were offered masks. Here’s a video of the crowd.
RIGHT NOW: @DanForestNC, @NCGOP Lt. Gov. hoping to unseat @NC_Governor @RoyCooperNC, greets raucous crowd. “This looks like freedom,”; warns @KamalaHarris could be President for 8 yrs because @JoeBiden “won’t last long.” @ABC11_WTVD @ABC #Vote2020 #ncpol
Ryan Nobles of CNN reported that the crowd had a mix of people wearing masks and not wearing masks.
If you are watching the President at home it may seem like there is a solid percentage of people wearing masks.
But take a broader look at the crowd and it tells a different story.
Garrett Haake of MSNBC reported that crowds in North Carolina are supposed to be capped at 50 people for outdoor events, which the event surpassed. He said that although masks were encouraged, only about 10% of attendees wore masks.
Hello from Winston-Salem, NC where hundreds await @realDonaldTrump at an outdoor rally. Attendees have their temperature checked as they arrive, & signs encourage mask-wearing. I’d say ~10% are wearing masks. No distancing to speak of. Outdoor events in NC are capped at 50 people
Haake confirmed what other reporters at the event said, estimating there were several thousand at the event but not 15,000.
“I really believe these crowds are bigger than they were four years ago,” @realDonaldTrump says, after making fun of Biden for hosting small events. He says he was told there are 15,000 people here.
(There are probably a few thousand, but not near that many imho)
The event is being referred to as a peaceful protest by Trump and attendees.
TRUMP: “We’ve decided to call all our rallies peaceful protests.”
A Large Overflow Crowd Also Attended the Event
While there were thousands in the event itself, there were also thousands in the overflow area who couldn’t get seats. Here’s one video of the overflow crowd.
Overflow crowd at North Carolina Trump rally
Another look at the overflow crowd.
YUUUUUUGE overflow crowd at the Trump rally in Winston-Salem.
And here’s another photo.
Overflow at the Trump rally in North Carolina.
This video shows an overflow crowd about 90 minutes before Trump’s arrival.
👀Overflow crowd continues to grow here in Winston-Salem.
About 90 min away from @realDonaldTrump.
Mr. President, sir- are you watching?! North Carolina is pumped and ready!
This video was also shared of the large overflow crowd.
Here are more photos from the rally.
The crowd behind Trump was packed for the rally in the photo below.
GettyPresident Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally.
Trump addresses his crowd in the photo below.
GettyPresident Donald Trump addresses supporters.
In the photo below, a Trump supporter wears a dress with his name on it in large letters. Some people wore masks but many did not.
GettyA Trump supporter wears a dress emblazoned with his name.
GettyPeople cheer for President Donald Trump during a campaign rally at Smith Reynolds Airport on September 8, 2020.
Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. has an event scheduled for tomorrow in Duluth, Minnesota. This one begins at 5 p.m. Central time at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. Eric Trump also has an event at High Point, North Carolina, and Vice President Mike Pence has an event at Freedom, Pennyslvania.
Trump’s next event is Thursday, September 10, in Michigan.
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