Amid a sea of red “Make America Great Again” hats and waving flags, supporters of former President Donald Trump gathered Saturday at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie Pennsylvania for a rally expected to host fewer than 1,000 people inside, while hundreds of others assembled outside.
According to the venue’s website, the event took place in the Grand Ballroom, which can accommodate 1,000 people. The convention center gave no comment when contacted by The Globe.
Trump covered various topics, mainly criticizing the Biden-Harris administration. “Joe Biden is in Delaware sleeping right now in one of his many estates,” Trump claimed, questioning how Biden acquired so many properties.
He also criticized Vice President Kamala Harris. “Kamala Harris has openly acknowledged being the worst vice president in history, and she would be much worse as president,” Trump said. “She would be a disaster.”
Trump blamed Harris for the nation’s border crisis, describing it as “the biggest crime story of our time.”
Trump stressed Pennsylvania’s importance in the upcoming elections. “If we win Pennsylvania, we win,” Trump said. , “Our entire nation is counting on the people of the Commonwealth, and I know you won’t let us down.”
He discussed energy policies, a crucial issue for the state he has continued to discuss, and made sure to criticize Biden’s stance on fracking. “Fracking—her whole life she said, ‘You will never frack, never frack,'” he said.
Trump praised local politician David McCormick, urging attendees to vote for him in the 2024 Pennsylvania Senate Race, calling McCormick “a great man” and highlighting his importance in the upcoming elections.
Among the attendees was Blake Marnell, better known as “Brick Suit,” who stood out in a suit patterned like a brick wall – a symbol of Trump’s proposed border wall with Mexico.
“I first wore this suit at a rally in Montoursville, Pennsylvania, in 2019,” Marnell said. “When President Trump saw me, he called me up on stage. After that, I couldn’t just put it back in the closet.”
At the Erie rally, Trump again noticed Marnell and referenced him during his speech. “Mr. Wall, stand up Mr. Wall. I love this guy’s outfit. I want to buy one…are they for sale? You know, I built hundreds of miles of wall,” Trump said, praising Marnell’s suit.
Marnell’s attire has since become a fixture at Trump events. “It’s the best 80 bucks I ever spent,” Marnell grinned. “People recognize me now, and I encourage others to vote over social media. Every vote counts.”
Meanwhile, outside the venue, across the street from the County Fair Gas Station near Frontier Park, protesters gathered with signs expressing frustration with the former president’s political legacy. Among them was Andrew Salmon, 39, holding a sign that read, “Trump is weird.”
Salmon, a lifelong Erie resident, has supported the Democratic Party since becoming eligible to vote.
“I’ve supported the Democratic Party not just because I’m a Democrat, but because of how repulsive some Republican candidates have been,” salmon said. “It’s motivated me to try and help save our country and keep sane politicians in power.”
When asked what made Trump “weird,” Salmon said, “Everything about him. He oozes weird. The way he looks—he wears ill-fitting suits, puts on orange makeup, dyes his hair, and doesn’t behave like a normal man his age.” Salmon also criticized Trump’s policies, saying, “Wanting to funnel money up to the billionaire class and leave the low and middle class behind is not good policy and dangerous for our country.”
Also among the protesters was Heather, 48, who declined to give her last name. Heather is a lifelong Erie resident who carried a sign reading, “Feed him to the Corgis.”
When asked about her sign, Heather explained, “It’s in reference to Trump’s debate statement that Haitian immigrants in Springfield Massachusetts are eating cats and dogs, which is obnoxious and ridiculous. So I made my sign just as obnoxious and ridiculous.”
Heather expressed her apprehension about the rural areas surrounding Erie. “Erie’s a small city, and there’s a lot of rural counties with red Trump supporters. That concerns me and worries me for everyone’s future,” she said. “There’s passion on both sides, but [the Republican Party’s] passion is fueled by hate, and [the Democratic Party’s] is fueled by progressive change.”
John David Longo, the mayor of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, was interviewed before the event. Longo, who was about to receive his credentials to enter the rally, expressed his support for Trump and outlined the issues he planned to address in his speech.
“I’m going to cover the collapsed economy that’s the product of a failed Biden-Harris administration,” Longo said. “I’m going to talk about the open border, the increase in the cost of homes, and motivating people to vote. Everyone needs to get out and make their voice heard, because we have a lot at stake.”
Longo also stressed his efforts to encourage voter registration in his community. “We go to tailgates, farmers markets, gun bashes—you name it. We ask everyone if they’re registered to vote at their current address.”
When asked about mail-in ballots, Longo said, “Absolutely. The campaign has encouraged voting early and voting by mail because we need to use every tool to ensure everyone’s voice is heard.”
His message to college students, particularly at Point Park University, was clear: “The Democratic Party doesn’t think you’re smart enough to manage your money. They want to take your taxes and divide the money as they see fit.”
Following the claim about the Democratic Party wanting to use young voters’ ignorance of money management, Longo said, “Today, the average Pennsylvanian spends $1,000 more per month than they did under the Trump administration. If that doesn’t motivate you to vote, I’m unsure what will.”
As the nation approaches another election news cycle, the Erie rally emphasizes Americans’ deep divisions and the passionate convictions on both sides of the political spectrum. Local authorities reported no major incidents, but tensions ran high. A heightened security presence ensured the safety of attendees, with police managing the crowds inside and outside the convention center.
