Trump replayed some of his greatest hits on Monday at a Wright Bros. Aero hangar event that he said was not supposed to be a rally but instead “a friendly protest.”
“We’re protesting stupidity,” Trump told about 1,200 people gathered at Dayton International Airport.
He repeatedly attacked Democratic presidential rival Joe Biden, mentioned Hillary Clinton, his opponent from four years ago, and talked critically about Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, the “radical left” and more.
The crowd chanted “Lock her up” when Clinton’s name was mentioned.
He also talked about voting by mail and the potential problems he sees from it.
He said of Democrats and voting by mail: “And what they want to do is they want to have a mess at the end of the evening on Nov. 3 and then fight it out in the courts,” Trump said.
The event was billed as “Fighting for the American Worker,” and it included a few dozen local workers on stage behind Trump.
The workers were from Crown Equipment, Weigandt Construction, Area Wide Electric, Charles Jergens Construction and Bruns Construction.
Danny Burton, 37, an oil and gas worker and owner of Advanced Land Solutions in Salem, said it felt like being at a “rock concert” sitting on the risers behind Trump during the rally. Burton and his mother Nancy Burton, 60, a coal miner for Rosebud Mining, were asked by the Trump campaign to come.
He said Trump’s policies, including lowering taxes and reducing regulations, have done a lot for his company and his industry.
“It’s just been a breath of fresh air to feel the government has your back,” he said. “I believe he probably saved our industry.”
6:30 p.m.: President Donald Trump said of those who oppose him: “They don’t like my personality. Who the hell cares about my personality? You’ve got to get the job done.”
The Dayton crowd of supporters responded with cheers in support of Trump.
6:25 p.m.: President Donald Trump told more than 1,000 supporters in Dayton on Monday evening that he had “totally rebuilt our military.”
He touted work on weapons: “Nobody has the weaponry we have .. and hopefully we don’t have to use them,” he said.
He also said the Department of Veterans Affairs recently received a 91 percent approval rating.
6:15 p.m.: President Donald Trump attacked Democrat rival Joe Biden as the president spoke Monday evening to a crowd at a Dayton airport hangar.
“We have a debate coming up,” Trump said of the Sept. 29 event to be held at Case Western University in Cleveland. “He should be able to beat me I should think,” noting Biden has been in politics for 47 years to four years for Trump.
The president also talked about car sales and home sales rebounding after the economy reopened following the coronavirus pandemic shutdowns earlier this year.
If Biden wins, “I am going to come back to Dayton and say, 'What the hell happened?”
Leaders of China, Russia, North Korea and Iran would love to have Biden win to take advantage of him, Trump said.
“We cannot have a sleepy guy that is negotiating,” Trump said.
6:02 p.m.: President Donald Trump introduced Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine as he addressed supporters in Dayton tonight.
DeWine’s mention received some applause and some boos.
“He’s a good man,” Trump said. “He’s opening up.”
Lt. Gov. Jon Husted also was recognized by Trump. Earlier, the crowd had booed Husted when he spoke about wearing masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
U.S. Reps. Mike Turner and Warren Davidson received bigger cheers when they were introduced.
5:56 p.m.: President Donald Trump told supporters, “This is really not a rally. We call it a friendly protest ... We’re protesting stupidity.”
He said he was “here today to talk about jobs.”
“Joe Biden spent the last 47 years shipping your jobs to China and foreign countries,” said Trump, who said he had spent the last four years bringing jobs back.
5:54 p.m.: President Donald Trump is on stage now.
5:39 p.m.: President Donald Trump has landed aboard Air Force One at the Dayton International Airport, and he is expected to address a crowd at the Wright Bros. Aero hangar in minutes.
The Dayton stop is an invite-only event, and local Republican officials handed out 1,200 tickets within the first 24 hours after the stop was announced.
The president also will travel to the Toledo area tonight for what has been billed as a rally.
Speakers earlier had started to address the crowd gathered, but music played for much of the time while Trump’s arrival had been delayed. The event was to start at 4:30 p.m.
The presidential seal was added to the podium about 5:20 p.m., indicating the president was nearing arrival.
5:10 p.m.: President Donald Trump is expected to address a crowd of supporters within the next hour, but the event is running behind schedule this afternoon.
A crowd of roughly 1,200 people have gathered at Wright Bros. Aero hangar at the Dayton International Airport, awaiting the president.
4:30 p.m: Lt. Gov. Jon Husted addressed the crowd gathered to hear President Trump this afternoon in Dayton.
Husted advocated for wearing face masks that support Trump, and folks loudly booed him for referencing masks.
At one point, the crowd began chanting “open up,” likely a reference to Ohio’s coronavirus-related regulations on businesses.
Husted also got a lackluster reaction when he asked how many people would vote early or absentee. The crowd cheered loudly when he asked how many people would vote in person.
4:25 p.m.: Warmup speakers have started addressing a crowd of supporters waiting for President Donald Trump to arrive at Dayton International Airport this afternoon.
The program inside the Wright Bros Aero hanger has begun.
Steve Staub of Staub Manufacturing Solutions, a metal fabricator in Dayton, said Trump has been good for the manufacturing business.
“Trump promised to be tough on trade, and he kept that promise,” he said. “China cheats, plain and simple.”
He said the Payment Protection Program (PPP) loans were a “lifesaver,” referring to the coronavirus pandemic.
Credit: JIM NOELKER/STAFF
Credit: JIM NOELKER/STAFF
3:20 p.m.: People are filing into the Wright Bros. Aero hangar where Trump will speak today at Dayton International Airport.
Behind the podium are large banners saying “Buy American!” and “Hire American!”, a row of American flags and a row of seating holding men and women in work uniforms and hard hats. City of Dayton street maintenance trucks are part of the backdrop.
A jubilant crowd is taking their seats with customary red hats and other Trump apparel. Chairs are lined up next to each other with no spacing between them, and many in the crowd are not wearing masks. Those who will be behind the president as he speaks are wearing masks.
Music including Queen’s “We are the Champions” and Elton John’s “Rocket Man” are playing over loudspeakers.
Behind the crowd, facing the podium are risers filled with national, state and local media.
Earlier, some people who had gathered outside the venue said they did not have tickets and but hoped to be admitted. Officials from the local Republican parties handed out 1,200 tickets ahead of today’s event.
12:30 p.m.: The line outside the McCauley Drive entrance to the airport grew to more than 100 people by noon.
Deborah Sakal of West Milton was first in line. She says she showed up at 8:30 a.m. outside the airport entrance. She doesn’t have a ticket but hopes to get in.
“I want to hear him speak in person. I like to hear him speak. I like to hear him talk about the economy. I’m really excited about the Supreme Court right now,” she said.
Next to her stood Osei Thomas and Gary Wolfinbarger, who drove 4.5 hours from Butler County, Kentucky to hear Trump speak. They got tickets from friends in Cincinnati.
Asked what he hopes to hear today, Thomas – wearing a sports coat covered with images of Trump and Trump socks – mentioned the economy, veterans, the stock market, the coronavirus vaccine, supporting law enforcement, freedom of speech, abortion, the Second Amendment and religion.
“Trying to help out Americans living their life and make America great,” said Thomas.
Martha Chatterton took her 10-year-old daughter Khloe out of school in New Lebanon today to hear Trump speak.
Martha Chatterton said her daughter saw on Tik Tok how people were attacking Trump, who she believes is a hard-working president.
“I want to see what he’s planning to do, and stuff,” Khloe said.
11:30 a.m.: By 11:20 a.m., more than 50 people already had started their wait for the arrival of President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One at the Dayton International Airport and the Wright Bros Aero hangar.
About 1,200 tickets were distributed by local Republican Party officials for the event, which is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m.
Many of those who were in place initially wore red Make America Great Again gear.
As a multi-jurisdictional police force emerged, the crowd broke into applause and thanked the police.
