In a clear sign of the Trump campaign’s current difficulties, former President Donald Trump held a rally on Wednesday in a relatively small 2,400-seat auditorium in North Carolina, a significant decrease from the 7,200-seat arena he filled during his 2016 visit to the same area.
Event Details
Venue and Attendance
The rally took place at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, a venue considerably smaller than the Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville, where Trump previously drew a full house. The event, which was broadcast live nationwide, was described by the Citizen Times as an intimate “town hall policy discussion.”
Contrast with Other Campaign Events
This scaled-down rally contrasts sharply with the larger, more energetic events hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been drawing enthusiastic crowds to expansive basketball arenas.
Speech Highlights
Insulin Cap Claim
During his speech, Trump mistakenly took credit for the $35 insulin cap, a policy actually implemented under President Biden. “I did that… I remember when I did it. I said I hope I’m elected because someone is going to get a lot of credit for doing what I got done,” Trump asserted, despite the policy being a Biden administration achievement.
Campaign Struggles
Smaller Venues and Prepaid Events
The decision to use a smaller venue highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Trump campaign. In addition to reducing rally sizes, Trump had to prepay for this North Carolina event, reflecting the campaign’s financial and logistical struggles. Meanwhile, his allies, such as JD Vance, have encountered sparsely attended gatherings in places like Michigan.
Maintaining Momentum
The shrinking size of Trump’s rallies underscores the broader difficulties his campaign is experiencing in maintaining momentum and enthusiasm among supporters.
Watch the videos below:
Trump: “$35 insulin… I did that. I did the insulin”
Fact check: This is a blatant lie. Trump did not cap insulin costs, Biden-Harris did for seniors through the Inflation Reduction Act. Trump’s Project 2025 wants to repeal it, which would raise insulin costs for over a million… pic.twitter.com/L3gpTEoRgM— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 14, 2024
Trump says he opposes wind energy because he thinks his TV would turn off when the wind isn’t blowing pic.twitter.com/pRgZeT1OtZ
— Kamala HQ (@KamalaHQ) August 14, 2024
Trump suggests teachers and military service members don’t have real jobs because they’re not “private sector”
— Skyleigh Heinen-Uhrich (@Sky_Lee_1) August 14, 2024
So the soldiers that are protecting us right now throughout the world and the teachers don’t have real jobs!
Let this go FAR AND WIDE! pic.twitter.com/K6jxQPRHbG
Trump: We will bring back our suppy tain pic.twitter.com/RA9cd2a0I6
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 14, 2024
Conclusion Trump’s recent rally in North Carolina, held in a smaller venue than in previous years, signals significant challenges for his campaign. As the campaign works to overcome these obstacles, the contrastingly larger and more energetic events of his political rivals further emphasize the hurdles he faces in rallying support.