On Saturday afternoon, I drove to eastern Pennsylvania, one of the battlegrounds between President Biden and Donald Trump in this election, to attend Mr. Trump’s final rally before his criminal trial begins on Monday. So I went out. As this historic event unfolded, I became curious about the mood of those who voted for Trump. Were they angry? Worried? Are you frustrated? Are you ready to enter a civil war?
Instead, you’ll find young women in sequins, older women in tutus, men in all sorts of combinations of red, white, and blue, and just about everyone enjoying MAGA camaraderie. Ta. It felt like the Whos gathered in Whoville to sing after the Grinch Stole Christmas. There was an atmosphere of unity, common purpose, faith, and joy. I did not come across anyone sweating during the trial. But I talked to a lot of people like Lauren Herzog. She wore a MAGA hat in pigtails and an American flag pajama onesie. She talked to her husband and her friends. Trump will be back in court soon.
There was a lot of laughter and even some crosstalk, but the final verdict from the group was “meh.” A more complicated answer was that no one was worried that Trump might be a criminal, but everyone was furious that people who disliked Democrats were trying to oust him. Also.
One of the men joked that he was worried the whole time that his “Tourettes” would kick in and he’d start yelling, “Fuck Biden!” Only he turned bluer than Neji. One of the women said she felt she was being put on trial just because Trump was running for president. When asked about the issue, she said she was concerned that most Americans these days have become incredibly “stupid.” Except she turned unusually blue.
I’ve heard variation after variation on this theme. “Mr. Trump is the victim of a political witch hunt.” Democrats are panicking and trying to get rid of him. Yet he will escape from their hands. Also.
All of this explains much of the appeal of this gathering. Lord knows people are willing to throw themselves into it, but these aren’t just opportunities to celebrate Trump. They are alternate reality bubbles, his trials and tribulations are fake news, and the self-affirming nature of the community reigns supreme. No matter how unsettling things are in Joe Biden’s America, Trump rallies are happy places where MAGA fans can be their authentic selves, comfortably surrounded by like-minded people and outsiders. Safe and secure from criticism and negativity.
January 6th is no big deal here. It’s been mostly peaceful, and it’s not Trump’s fault anyway. Here, the former president is the savior of democracy who can end wars and bring economic prosperity with a snap of his fingers—which he would have done by now if the 2020 election hadn’t been stolen. Thank you very much. Here, all the turmoil and problems of the modern world can be laid at the feet of radical Democrats. That, in turn, and this is important, means that resolving the mess is as easy as simply replacing Joe Biden with Mr. Trump. .
Where else can you feel so secure about your worldview on a typical Saturday night?
Throughout the Schnecksville Fire Company venue, the venue was buzzing with crowds waiting for the candidates to arrive. People took selfies, stuffed themselves with Carnival’s tastiest delicacies, including hot dogs, corn dogs and sausages, and complimented each other on their anti-Biden gear. (A man wearing a sweatshirt emblazoned with the president, bent double over, clutching the backs of his knees and lifting his head above his butt was especially popular.) Here and there, dangling from cranes People were jumping up and down to the tunes blaring from a bank of speakers. on either side of the stage. The only hint of the impending courtroom drama was the inclusion, perhaps unintentionally, of Elvis’ “Jailhouse Rock” on the gathering’s playlist. But no one in the crowd seemed to mind. In fact, two women near the stage wore matching red, white and blue sequined jackets with “Proud American” embroidered on the back, which just made them bop harder.
By the time Mr. Trump took the stage, the wind was almost biblical, with some people’s faces barely visible as they wrapped themselves in hats, hoods and scarves. But everyone was cheering and chanting, basking in the warmth of his orange glow.
Even if the audience wasn’t paying attention to the upcoming trial, the former president certainly was. Less than 10 minutes into his speech, he pivoted from bashing President Biden as a “crazy tyrant” to reminding everyone that “a full trial begins two days from now.” . The world will witness the start of the first trial against Biden. They’re all Biden trials, you know that, right? ”
From there, he headed straight down the rabbit hole we expected. First, the argument that his legal problems are not about him, but about his supporters. “I’m proud to be able to do that for you! Enjoy watching,” he urged, with the resolute air of a savior facing a messy but necessary crucifixion. Next followed allegations of outrageous and unfair treatment tinged with dishonesty. “On Monday in New York City, I’ll be made to sit completely gagged. I’m not allowed to speak! Can you believe it?” Like a frog paraded into court with a rag stuffed in its mouth He said in a tone as if he was going to do it. In response to boos, he added, “They want to take away my constitutional right to speak.” (Well, not exactly. Mr. Trump was instructed not to publicly attack prosecutors, witnesses, jurors, and court officials involved in the case, not to mention their families and the families of the presiding judge and district attorney.) )
Trump has railed against the judge, who is not subject to the gag order, calling him a “highly inconsistent and corrupt person” and accusing him of suffering from Trump Derangement Syndrome. He dismissed the entire incident as a conspiracy by “radical left Democrats” who “will do everything in their power to prevent me from running and winning this election.” He then expanded further, claiming, “I haven’t done anything wrong since day one.” And despite spending time and effort on “every conceivable hoax,” the naysayers “couldn’t find anything. That’s why I’m probably the most honest man in the world.”
The audience loved it. But what really got people excited was his claim that Monday’s trial was a “communist show trial.” “We want Mr. Trump! We want Trump! We want Trump!” they chanted.
This man is truly an Olympic-level demagogue.
I spent most of Mr. Trump’s speech not far from the stage, flanked by two very kind older men dressed in camouflage. One wore a matching hat that read “Ultra Maga Warrior.” One of them shoved me onto a chair, offered me a break from the wind, and even offered to lend me a pair of gloves to keep my fingers from freezing. I was comfortable enough, but after listening to Trump’s usual rants for nearly an hour, I decided to call it a night.
Walking briskly toward the warmth of my car, I passed a stream of others who had left early to avoid the post-speech exodus. People walked in pairs and small groups, some holding hands, but the atmosphere was quieter and more subdued. With Trump hats swinging and smartphones illuminating the rocky path, they carefully chose their path back to the real world.
