The day before yesterday Donald Trump’s campaign released a statement that they would be skipping CPAC and were instead going to be campaigning, and added a stop in my home town of Wichita, KS. At first I thought “cool?” I assumed the rally would be in the evening, at the time that I work, so I assumed I just wouldn’t be able to attend, but then I learned it was early in the morning at 9am, which then I realized that I could actually goto this.
I usually don’t bother going to… well anything. Especially not political events, especially not rallies, or anything like this. But Trump is a HUUUUUGE hero of mine. I don’t like to debate politics in this form, so I really don’t want to get into why I like his policies and stances, but I will say that Trump attracts alot of people due to his honesty, rather its negative or positive, he talks to you and not at you. And to sum of his policies = America first, and America should be first. Any country should hold themselves first, along with common logical sense.
I got online and started to look at info on what was required to attend the rally. I know these rallies usually have pretty long lines, and I’d want to get as close to the front as possible, who wants to be in the back? Also it was going to be a pretty busy day in the area due to the Caucuses that were happening at 10am in the same area. So I’d have to get there not only early enough to get in the front of the line for the rally, but early enough to find a parking space.
The campaign used a site called Eventbrite to register and receive tickets. So, I signed up for an account on there, got a ticket to the rally, which can either be digital using the EventBrite app, or you can print off the ticket in paperform.
It’s about a 30-40 Minute drive from where I live to Wichita, and I wanted to get there by at least 4am, the Rally was at 9, doors opened at 7am, so hopefully this would give me plenty of time.
I finally got to the place where the rally was raking place, and ended up parking an super empty parking lot half a block away at about 3:30, and walked to the building where the even was taking place, was surprised to see a couple of people in line already, maybe 5, and they were all together. Great thing about Trump supporters is that WE ALL LOVE EACHOTHER. They instantly embraced me, i don’t mean like a hippie hugs, but they said HI, asked me If i was a Trumpster, in which i said HECK YES, and welcomed me.
None of us were sure that we were in the right place though, there were no signs, nothing to indicate where we should stand and form a line, so one of the guys walked around the building to make sure we were at the correct spot, and it turns out we weren’t. The entrance as on the exact opposite side of the building. The building is round with many entrance so even after we thought we found the proper entrance we still weren’t sure.
There were alot of police having a meeting in this area I suppose to prepare for Trump’s Security, we asked them if it was the spot, they said yes, and then we knew for sure when we looked into the window and saw the rally room, and the GLORIOUS PODIUM!
I was then amazed by all the Secret Service. I didn’t think Trump would have so much Secret Service for only being a Presidential Candidate, but he had so much. It makes sense I suppose since he is front runner, and his ideas are scary to the establishment, and other power figures that the threat to his life is very high. I think Trump also uses the security to create a powerful persona, which it does work. He’s great at that sort of thing.
Eventually a truck load of Secret Service agents and officers showed up and started setting up metal detectors.
I was hoping to get a red MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN hat, but there was no one anywhere selling them at first. Eventually a few people showed up who seem to follow Trump rallies to sell stuff, and they had some hats. They were selling the hats for $20, i told the guy i only had a $10 bill and he sold it to me for that. I don’t think these are official hats, they seem like cheap ones you can order and have whatever printed on them, but either way I had a red hat for the rally, ha
Slowly but surely groups of people would start showing up and lining us behind us. Before 6 am there was a line all the way out to the street, which was a few hundred yards. The secret service finally opened the door and started letting us in about 6:30am, 30 minutes earlier than the 7am planned time for the doors to open.
We quickly got to the front row, I didn’t get front center, which i didn’t really want, I got front but a little bit to the left, where i thought I had the perfect view of Mr. Trump.
The music was super loud, and quickly became annoying due it being the same 4 songs on repeat.
There was a lady there getting the crowd excited. I forget her name, and I can’t find it anywhere, but as soon as I do i’ll put it here. She said she was on the Apprentice years upon years go. She was hyping the crowd and giving away gifts/prizes etc. She actually did a pretty good job, and I can see why Trump would have her there.
Time went by pretty fast even though we all had to sit there for hours listening to the same 4 songs on repeat, but there was so much excitement in the air. The room quickly filled up, even on the higher decks, and Trump is right in his rallies when he says there are thousands outside still trying to get in, which was also the case here. The room itself was much larger than it looks in the photos, but it’s still a smaller building, and could probably hold a couple thousand max.
Eventually two speakers came out, a Pastor to give a prayer, and The Kansas Secretary of State who endorsed Trump. He kind of annoyed me because his family showed up to watch him, so they put an extra row of seats in front of us to make room for his family to sit, which is bullshit because we showed up at 3am. The people I was with moved up to one of those seats, I stayed. Could still see as good as I could prior to them adding another row of seats, so it was cool.
Eventually cooler sounding music started, and extra Secret Service started to come up front to the sides of the stages, and in front of it, and a voice announced LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, the NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, DONALD TRUMP! Huge Applause, everyone stood up, there was the man.
It was really surreal really. I’ve never really seen or cared to see anyone famous, but Trump is someone I really admire, and I watch so many of his Speeches, it was just so surreal to actually see him.
I didn’t want to record the speech with my phone because I wanted to experience it and not worry about my phone, and I knew that the speech would be recorded by the media and archived online anyways. But i did record some shots and small video clips. I tried to record the excitement at the time when he first came out onto state, but I guess in all the craziness i hit the wrong button and it wasn’t recorded, oh well.
Full video of his Wichita, KS speech:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSUseuYyvrI
Even though most of us had seats, besides the back of the room which was standing only, everyone stood up once he came, and never sat back down.
Everyone in the crowed loved Mr Trump. He’s right when he says his rallies are love and full of love, besides the few attention seeking protesters. Everyone was so welcoming of eachother, and we all felt like family. I haven’t really experienced that before, anywhere.
The weird thing was, being there was just like watching the speeches on youtube. Pretty much felt the same. I’m not sure if it was because I hadn’t slept in along time or what, but it was still an amazing experience.
The speech was shorter than most at his rallies, and this was due the rally starting a little after 9, and the caucuses in Kansas started at 10, so it was a shorter speech than usual, which I don’t think anyone minded. It was just nice to see him.
What really amazed me was how personable he was with the people. Not like a phony politician who just acts like he’s a friend, he actually came across as sincere and friendly. An older man who rushed to the front see who is a Veteran really wanted an autograph, Trump explained that there was no time to give autographs because everyone had to get over to the Caucusing area. Trump actually took alot of time to explain to the guy. It might have took less time to just sign the autograph, but Trump was right. If Trump had came to the fence to sign autographs, Secret Service would have to rushed forward, and all the guests would rush to the front as well, which would’ve taken alot of time to deal with.
The most annoying part for me was after the rally, there were so many Mexican protesters outside. People driving around with Mexican flags all over their vehicles. Really? This annoys the hell out of me because they should be prideful of the country that they live in, who is taking care of them. Not some other country that obviously isn’t that great or else they’d be living there inside. Doesn’t make sense. Be prideful that you’re in the USA. I don’t have anything against Mexico, but they don’t live in Mexico.
The area outside was full of people who wanted to Caucasus.
In the end, Trump came in second place. Cruz some how won first place, not sure how. But oh well. I did notice that alow of the rally goers did immediately leave after the event and didn’t vote. At least not at the sight itself. (many would have to drive back to their own counties to vote). I think that all this is new for newer voters who Trump pulled in, and not much has been sad about how the process works in Kansas. I honestly didn’t even know that The caucus would be happening that day. But I guarantee you that all of these people will be voting on election day.
Was a great experience!
Video I shot of Trump leaving the stage and signaling to everyone to go around and Caucasus.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J05NLmn5yJ8
