President Donald Trump led his first rally today since his coronavirus diagnosis. Here’s a look at how many people attended the Sanford, Florida, rally on October 12, along with crowd size photos and overflow photos. The rally took place at the Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Florida.
Thousands Attended the Rally, With Media Estimating 4,000 or More, Not Including Overflow
GettyPresident Donald Trump holds a Make America Great Again rally as he campaigns at Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Florida, October 12, 2020.
This was Trump’s first rally speech since contracting coronavirus. His doctor said for the first time on Monday before the rally that Trump had tested negative for COVID-19 on consecutive days, the AP reported.
GettyPresident Donald Trump holds a Make America Great Again rally in Sanford, Florida.
Ben Riley-Smith, U.S. editor of the Telegraph, showed the crowd and estimated it included at least 4,000 people, possibly more. He wrote: “There are a lot of people here at Trump’s Florida rally. At a guess 4,000+?”
There are a lot of people here at Trump’s Florida rally. At a guess 4,000+?
The Orlando Sentinel estimated the crowd to be in the “thousands.”
Richard Hall of the Independent shared the video below, noting that the crowd was not socially distanced and many weren’t wearing masks.
View of the crowd here in Sanford, Florida. Trump’s first rally since being infected with Covid-19. Crowd is not socially distanced and lots of people with no masks.
He shared more photos showing a packed crowd in Florida.
This photo of Trump walking onto the stage was shared on Twitter by Doug Mills of the New York Times.
.@realDonaldTrump arrives on stage for a campaign rally at the Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Fl.
During his speech, Trump told the crowd that he felt energized by their prayers and support. “Now they say I’m immune. … I feel so powerful. I’ll kiss everyone in the room,” Trump joked. “I’ll kiss all the guys and all the beautiful women.”
GettySupporters of President Donald Trump attend a Make America Great Again rally as he campaigns at Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Florida, October 12, 2020.
Before he spoke, Trump tossed masks to the crowd as he often does. He was quite energetic for his speech, which lasted about 60 minutes.
GettyPresident Donald Trump throws masks to supporters as he arrives to hold a Make America Great Again rally.
Trump’s speech was shorter than his normal 90-minute rally speech, but it was longer than the 45-minute speech he gave just before his diagnosis and his 17-minute speech at the White House on October 10.
During the rally, Trump told the crowd that the U.S. is going to land an astronaut on Mars “very soon.”
Biden has been leading Trump in polls recently, but Trump told the crowd during his Orlando rally speech that the sizes of his rallies are “the real polls.”
Trump expresses sympathies to people whose family members have died from the virus; he has rarely said such things at rallies. The crowd chants to him, “We love you.” He thanks them, then baselessly alleges there’s a politically motivated effort to prevent a pre-election vaccine.
Daniel Dale of CNN shared that at one point during his speech, Trump expressed his sympathy for the families of those who have died for coronavirus. Dale reported that the crowd chanted back: “We love you!”
Trump danced at the end of his rally, as he often does.
The president is dancing.
Overflow Was Also Packed & Trump Has More Events Planned This Week
RSBN, a pro-Trump news source, shared these screenshots from the “Overflow Cam” during Trump’s rally.
Overflow cam! Trump rally in Sanford, FL is 🔥🔥🔥
They shared this photo too:
Overflow crowd already at the @realDonaldTrump event in Sanford, FL. 👀
Nicole Sganga of CBS News shared a video of the crowd lined up seven hours before the event was set to begin.
SANFORD, FL — Seven hours ahead of President Trump’s rally, supporters line up to witness their candidate’s return to the campaign trail.
“He’s back and so are we,” one calls out.
Jim Acosta shared this photo of people waiting for Trump to arrive.
Waiting for Trump rally outside Orlando, very few supporters wearing masks, including many senior citizens.
Here are some more crowd photos from the rally:
GettyPresident Donald Trump holds a Make America Great Again rally as he campaigns at Orlando Sanford International Airport.
GettyPresident Donald Trump arrives.
GettyPeople watch with phone cameras poised as President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One.
GettyPresident Donald Trump speaks during his campaign event at the Orlando Sanford International Airport on October 12, 2020, in Sanford, Florida.
GettyPresident Donald Trump arrives on stage.
GettyPresident Donald Trump holds a Make America Great Again rally as he campaigns at Orlando Sanford International Airport in Sanford, Florida.
Trump is currently planning additional in-person rallies this week on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The Johnstown, Pennsylvania, rally begins at 7 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, October 13, at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport.
The Des Moines, Iowa, rally begins at 7 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, October 14, at Des Moines International Airport.
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