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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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Rick launched the Life Over Coffee global training network in 2008 to bring hope and help for you and others by creating resources that spark conversations for transformation. His primary responsibilities are resource creation and leadership development, which he does through speaking, writing, podcasting, and educating.
In 1990 he earned a BA in Theology and, in 1991, a BS in Education. In 1993, he received his ordination into Christian ministry, and in 2000 he graduated with an MA in Counseling from The Master’s University. In 2006 he was recognized as a Fellow of the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC).