OAKS — The event space inside the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center and Fairgrounds was transformed into a sea of red Monday night as former President Donald Trump took the stage before several thousand cheering supporters.
“We win Pennsylvania, we win this great commonwealth, we are going to win the whole ballgame,” Trump proclaimed.
People began arriving to the convention center in Montgomery County as early as 5 a.m. to see the former president.
“I wanted to be up close, and I was at other rallies, and I was back further, and it was close to home. So I figure, you know what, I’m going to come here,” said Bob Furko, of Phoenixville, stressing the importance of Trump visiting the area so close to the 2024 general election.
“It means a lot. It means a lot. As you can see there’s a lot of people,” Furko said.
This is Trump’s second visit to the Philadelphia region in the last two weeks. Moderated by South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Trump took around four questions from attendees, addressing issues ranging from housing affordability to energy and the economy.
He last held an Oct. 9 rally in Reading. His running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance was also in Berks County this past weekend and will hold a town hall on Tuesday in Lafayette Hill. Trump’s opponent, Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is scheduled to be in Philadelphia on Wednesday and participate in a town hall on Oct. 23 in Delaware County.
Trump took aim at Harris at points throughout the town hall impressing upon attendees that “she’s not for this job. Everybody knows it.” and “she is not a smart woman, that’s true.”
“We have the worst president and [the] worst vice president by far,” he said of President Joe Biden and Harris, telling the crowd she’s “more dangerous than him.”
Importance of Pa.
“We’re in a swing state, and it’s crucial to get the vote out here in Montco, and [I’m] especially happy he came here to Southeastern PA,” said East Norriton Township resident John Posobiec.
Other Philadelphia area Trump supporters emphasized their need to attend Monday’s town hall.
“Well, because it was close to where we are, and I really love Trump, and looking forward to making America great again so I thought we’d come out and support,” said Malvern resident Sharon Chidester, who attended with her daughter, Kara Hildenbrand.
“We love him,” Hildenbrand, also of Malvern, said. “We think that he is the answer to … save our country and all of it — the economy, the sex trafficking, the schools, all of it.”
Sisters Linda Ritschard, of Pottstown, and Carol Stahl, of Elverson, Chester County, came to the town hall together hoping to share the experience of attending one of Trump’s events.
“I am so excited. I’m so happy to be here. I missed the Wildwood one and I would have loved to have been there. I had to be here,” Ritschard said.
“It was my only chance because it wasn’t too far away, and I need to be here,” Stahl added.
Similar sentiments were also shared among those volunteering for the Monday town hall.
“We’ve got to take back our country. There’s only one man that can do it and that’s Donald Trump,” said Blue Bell resident Kristen Imperiale.
“I came because we got to do something because we’re going in the wrong direction, and I have grandchildren, and I want them to have a future,” said Rita Saville, of Gilbertsville.
Anticipation builds
People waited for the doors to open in the general admission line as upbeat songs played from the classic rock, country and pop genres. People were seen donning the signature “Make America Great Again” hats waving Trump flags and selling a myriad of merchandise on the outskirts of the parking lot.
Area Republicans expressed their excitement to catch a glimpse of Trump and hear his position on a variety of issues. Topics most important to voters ranged from the economy to inflation to immigration to abortion.
“I’m hoping he says everything that he’s promising to do, and I’m all for Trump,” Furko said.
“I want him to know that the … suburban women are for Trump,” Imperiale said. “We keep hearing that they’re not, and everybody that I know is.”
Taking questions
The doors opened to the Montgomery County-based convention center hours before Trump was scheduled to appear. Music played inside as the crowd filed in. The crowd sporadically chanted “we want Trump” and “fight, fight, fight” inside the convention center less than an hour before Trump was scheduled to address the crowd. The rallying cry was first echoed following an assassination attempt against the former president during a rally in July.
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause following a rendition of the National Anthem, which was followed by chants of USA, increasing enthusiasm ahead of Trump’s appearance. The crowd roared again once he took the stage.
“We’re going to create the American dream for younger people, older people too,” Trump said in reply to questions.
Gold Star family Charles and Mary Strange, whose son was killed in August 2011 in Afghanistan, told Trump they wanted a commission set up to look into his death.
“We’re going to find out what happened. We’re going to do that in the first week. You have my word,” Trump said.
Lansdale business owner
A man who identified himself as “Yanni” said he is a Lansdale small business owner and told Trump about how he’s been impacted by rising prices over the past few years and asked for his plan to “bring common sense back to small businesses” like his.
Trump told him “I would love your food” and emphasized the need to bring down energy and utility costs, and “people will have more money to go to your restaurant.”
“We’re going to get your costs way down,” Trump said.
Around 30 minutes into his own remarks and 50 minutes into the town hall, Trump paused from answering a question about immigration to call for a doctor after noticing someone in need of medical attention in the crowd.
“We have incredible people who come here hours before and it’s a little hot,” he said.
A hush fell over the crowd. People could be heard shouting “we love you Trump” and singing God Bless America. Trump later indicated another person on the other side of the venue also needed medical attention.
He also instructed organizers to play music from the event’s playlist. A musical break then took place as Trump and the crowd listened to a rendition of “Ave Maria.”
“I want this to be a very important evening and those two people that went down there are patriots,” Trump said. Medical crews responded and assisted with at least one person seen being taken out of the hall on a stretcher.
The question and answer portion of the town hall ended shortly after as a medley of songs were played, including James Brown’s “It’s a man’s man’s man’s world,” Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” and YMCA by the Village people. Much of the crowd stuck around as Trump stayed on stage.
