President Donald Trump led a “Great American Comeback” event on Thursday, September 24. Here’s a look at how many people attended the Jacksonville, Florida, rally, along with crowd size photos.
To see crowd and overflow photos from Trump’s Newport News, Virginia rally on Friday, September 25, please see Heavy’s story here.
Thousands Were at the Packed Rally & Local News Said the Venue Could Hold up to 15,000
GettySupporters listen to President Donald Trump speak.
The rally took place at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida. According to Kailey Tracy of First Coast News, there were a few thousand people in line waiting to get into the rally a couple of hours before it began.
The venue holds 15,000, First Coast News confirmed. It’s not known if that many actually attended the event, but there were thousands there, First Coast reported, and the venue seemed packed. Tampa Bay Times also put the number of attendees at “several thousand.”
The photo below shows you how packed the venue was on Thursday night, with few empty seats remaining.
GettyTrump speaks at the Jacksonville Rally.
This photo from Christy Turner of Action News Jax gives a view of the venue from the press box.
It’s packed here at Cecil Airport. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews
The doors opened at 4 p.m., but people were already lining up early in the morning, Action News Jax reported. Here’s a video showing the long line of people waiting to get into the venue earlier in the day.
Quick timelapse of the long line of President Donald Trump supporters waiting to get in for the campaign rally. The line goes even further. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews
One supporter camped out for 48 hours before the rally to get a seat, Action News Jax reported.
Donald Trump supporter camps out for 48 hours before rally to see the president
Attendees were required to get their temperature checked. However, The Florida Times-Union reported that chairs were close together and there was little social distancing. Masks were not required and only a few people wore them, although everyone was given a mask when they arrived. Jacksonville officials told the Times-Union that because the event is outdoors, no COVID-19 ordinances were being violated by not social distancing during the rally.
GettySupporters wave as President Donald Trump leaves his Jacksonville rally.
In this video of the crowd, the group was waiting for the president to arrive.
Crowd awaits #POTUS at a rally in #Jacksonville, FL. #Trump expected to arrive at 1850ET. #2020 #Florida
During his speech, Trump talked about moving the American embassy to Jerusalem, and his statement was greeted with applause. He also mentioned that his advisers had told him to soften phrases like “law and order,” but he wasn’t going to do so because “Democrat-run states are a disaster.” He also promised to “hire more police” while increasing punishments on people who attack law enforcement.
Trump also said that Joe Biden was not going to release a list of possible Supreme court picks because “if he puts an extremist into that position, he loses everything that’s like normal. If he goes the other way, he loses the left.”
GettyPresident Donald Trump speaks during his ‘The Great American Comeback Rally’ at Cecil Airport.
Trump also told the crowd he would like to get back to normal life. Here’s another look at the crowd from two different angles, right after Air Force One touched down.
I’m at Cecil Airport where Air Force One just touched down for President Trump’s airport rally. So far, Mayor Curry, Rep Gaetz and Gov DeSantis have spoken, adopting particularly pugilistic tones.
During his speech, the crowd yelled, “We love you!” at Trump when he talked about how he “had such a nice life before doing this.” Trump also promised to put an astronaut on Mars.
Trump Has a Number of New Events Planned
GettyPresident Donald Trump speaks.
Trump has a number of events scheduled in the near future. He’s hosting an event in Newport News, Virginia, on Friday, September 25, at 9 p.m. Eastern time at the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.
GettyPresident Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Jacksonville.
His next event after that is Saturday, September 26, at 7 p.m. Eastern time at Middletown, Pennsylvania. This one is at AvFlight Harrisburg.
GettyPresident Donald Trump arrives on stage during the Jacksonville rally.
On September 29, Mike Pence is hosting an event and debate watch party in Lititz, Pennsylvania, starting at 7 p.m. Eastern time.
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