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That Time I Went to a Trump Rally

That Time I Went to a Trump Rally

In the summer of 2018, we were visiting Lucia’s sister in Minnesota when she told us about a nearby Trump Rally in Fargo, North Dakota. Our van just so happened to need a repair, and Fargo was the nearest Toyota dealer, so we decided to attend the rally while in Fargo. It was a memorable night, a bucket list type of event.

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Free for All

The event was free for anyone, though attendees were asked to order their tickets through their mobile phones. They gave away two passes per phone number, so we ordered six. Ironically, as we entered the building, I could not find anyone to give my tickets to, so I asked a police officer. He did not know about the tickets, so he directed me to a staffer.

I asked her, and she said, “We don’t want those.” I followed up with, “What was the ticket thing all about?” She said it was for tracking purposes; they did background checks using our phone numbers. Though I don’t want anyone tracking me, I appreciated that they used the ticket process as part of their security measures. With all the hostility toward President Trump, it was not a minor concern to be near him, never knowing what someone might do.

Massive Crowd

They scheduled the President for 7 P.M. We finished with the Toyota repair at 2 P.M. We thought we’d drive by Scheels Arena to see if there was any action. By 2:30 P.M., when we arrived, they had already wrapped the parking lot with people. We found out later that approximately 5000 people were in line 4.5 hours before the event started. They only permitted 6,000 people in the building, and we were the last 500 to get in. We would not have made it inside if we had arrived any later.

Our original plan was to drive by to check out things and then come back later to get in line. It was apparent that our plan was not going to work, so we parked and got in line with the swelling multitude. There were so many cars and people it was a challenge to find the end of the line. Eventually, we made it, met our new buddies for the next four hours, and stood in the ninety-degree North Dakota sun.

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Redeem the Time

The vendors were out in force, selling pins, bears, hats, T-shirts, and anything else you could put the President’s face, plus all the expected snappy clichés. I chatted with one lady, who happened to be black, from Columbia, South Carolina, which is 90 miles from where we live. She follows the President around the country, selling her wares and making a good living. I had total respect for her. She was emblematic of the American way: think of an idea, implement your plan, and make a living. She added that she liked the President’s capitalistic perspectives.

Noticeably, she was one of only a handful of black people I saw, but admittedly, there are not many dark-skinned people in North Dakota. They opened the doors at 4 P.M. We snaked around the parking lot for two hours, inching our way toward the entrance. The police and the Secret Service were everywhere. There were rows of porta-potties, EMS, and plenty of water. It was well-organized, and everyone was kind. I talked to a dozen police officers throughout the evening, thanking them for their dedication and care for us and our country. They were pleasant, grateful, and engaging.

The Rally

The building was nearly overflowing by the time we made it through the doors. I was glad to be part of the 6000 but sad for the thousands who could not make it. It was a historical event for our children to see a President of the United States. They perceived the magnitude of the moment and were grateful to be there. A few preliminary speakers were before the President came out at 7 P.M. The music was loud and eclectic. They played classic rock tunes, country songs, and one operatic classic.

The wave started spontaneously, as the crowd was in hyper-mode to see the President. It was deafening when he came from behind the giant flag draped at the back of the stage. He strolled, swaggered, pointed, clapped, and soaked in every moment as he made his way to the podium. The man knows how to enter a room. And with “I’m Proud to Be an American” blaring to a bunch of conservatives, it could not have been more raucous.

President Trump

The President was everything you’d expect. He knows how to work a crowd, push all the right buttons, and entertain an audience. Politics aside, he’s an excellent entertainer. I told a friend I was glad I had taught our children a few curse words because our President had no inhibitions about dropping them.

President Trump spoke for an hour, which he could have said all that he needed to say in thirty minutes, but the crowd was so positively reactive that he stopped several times because the people were clapping, chanting, and hollering. We hung out about an hour after the event so we could get some pics at the stage. I also wanted to see the whole process, i.e., breaking things down, packing up, interviews, and an opportunity to interact with folks who were milling around.

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Twelve Thoughts

  1. Our President governed mostly conservatively, which was a pleasant surprise. Before his election, there was much concern over who would be better for our country.
  2. He is an entertainer who loves the spotlight. Being the center of attention in the entire world is one big ego trip for him.
  3. He knows how to work a group of people. He’s good at what he does, which partially explains why he says some outlandish things; he’s riffing for the crowd. The downside is that everything he says comes under scrutiny as his enemies dissect it and disseminate it for their purposes.
  4. The rhetoric is part of who he is. It’s not appropriate, but it comes with the package, and nobody is going to change him.
  5. Leadership is a stewardship issue. Whether you’re leading one person, a family, or a nation, you have a responsibility to lead well. Leaders have followers.
  6. It’s imperative for leaders to understand their influence on others. If you disparage people, many of the followers will emulate that kind of self-righteous arrogance. Careful communication is a critical quality for leaders because of the adverse impact it can have on their constituency and enemies.
  7. President Trump seems to enjoy mocking his opponents. Though many of his opponents have ungodly agendas, his communication style could be better. He is a provocateur.
  8. There is no question that he has struck a chord with many Americans. The incrementalization of the destruction of the moral fabric of our country during my lifetime has created a visceral reaction from conservative Americans.
  9. President Trump is tapping into this pent-up unrest and fear that many Americans have felt for decades. You perceive this low-grade anger, frustration, hostility, retaliation, and ridicule from the conservative right, which is why their leader should steward the opportunity.
  10. The Christian’s hope and faith are not in our country, and the good news is that Christians have an opportunity to change how we discourse in the public square. We don’t have to imitate the right’s or left’s anger. We have a better person to emulate (1 Corinthians 11:1).
  11. I’m glad Trump is a somewhat conservative President. I don’t care for the package that comes with him, but I’m also an imperfect conservative. There are a few things about me that are off-putting.
  12. My greatest hope is not in our country or any President but in Christ alone. At the same time, my agenda is to impact as many lives as possible with His message. I do hope our Presidents will aid in this cause as they legislate in a way that gives me the freedom to share my Christ.

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