Spencer Thomas | editor-in-chief

While Western Pennsylvania is hosting political events on a daily basis, few of them look anything like the Trump rally held at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, Pa., on Saturday. The event looked less like a political rally, and more like a festival, and that aberrency was only matched by the speech itself.

After six hours of festivities, the headliner was onstage. Trump opened with a few stories about the airport’s namesake, Latrobe native and golfing legend Arnold Palmer, including one quip about his genitals. It was during these remarks that Trump produced the rally’s most memorable moment.

“This man was strong and tough. And I refuse to say it, but when he took showers with the other pros, they came out there, they said, ‘Oh my God, that’s unbelievable,’” Trump said with a laugh. “And I had to tell you the shower part of it, because it’s true.”

The rest of Trump’s 90-minute speech focused on winning issues for Republicans, such as immigration and economic policies, as well as several promises regarding the institution of tariffs on imported goods. This was punctuated with some heavy-handed remarks for his opponent.

“You have to tell Kamala Harris that you’ve had enough, that you just can’t take it anymore,” he said. “We can’t stand you. You are a [expletive] Vice President.”

“He’s a take no [expletive] kind of guy,” supporter Vivian Ohs said. “If you want something done, you go to a guy like that… Everything he does is top notch.”

Dale and Michelle Weisense had already voted, but still showed up to the rally, one of seven they’ve attended this campaign. Michelle said the party atmosphere creates a community that keeps them coming back.

“I really like going to these rallies, because I meet new people who … are instant friends. All of a sudden, we’re exchanging numbers and supporting each other. It is a great environment,” she said. “It feels like a party every time I go, and I don’t think that we will ever see this down the road again in this magnitude.”

After parking on the tarmac, attendees walked down a runway that was already in full swing before noon, six hours before Trump was scheduled to go on stage. By then, several dozen stalls were set up to sell merchandise, music was pumping from Bluetooth speakers and a man wearing a Trump mask was breakdancing barely 50 yards from the security gate. Behind him was a jacked up pickup truck with a custom wrap that depicted a shirtless Trump in homage to 50 Cent’s “Get Rich or Die Tryin” album. Just around the corner was a 4-foot-tall cardboard cutout, also showing Trump shirtless and in fantastic shape, with a cat wearing an American flag bandana perched on his shoulder. “Protector of pets” was scrawled across his chest, in reference to Trump’s false accusations that Haitian immigrants were eating people’s cats and dogs in Springfield, Ohio.

A man wearing roller blades whizzed around, while The Daily Show host Jordan Klepper and his entourage of cameramen and producers filmed a segment bound to air on Comedy Central.

Several groups packaged their support under ethnic labels, sporting signs that read “Koreans/Dominicans/Japanese for Trump,” and more.

Ohs was attending her fourth rally of the campaign specifically because she says she enjoys “MAGA, the people.” She mentioned meeting a woman in Butler, Pa., two weeks ago that had flown all the way from Los Angeles to experience a rally like this one.

“You meet people from all over the country that come in for these rallies. It’s pretty unique.”

Inside, supporters with a spare $20 could purchase “Ultra MAGA” honey, sold in 16 oz. bottles that were molded into a bust of Trump.

While “Trump Force One” landed on one runway, fashion choices made by supporters created a whole other kind of runway.

Among the attire was an orange suit that depicted a brick wall, as well as several Trump wigs and full body costumes. One group of three kids wore a group costume, with one dressed as the former president and the other two as secret service agents. One child, no more than 10 years old, wore a sweatshirt that depicted Trump throwing up a pair of middle fingers, and “YOU MISSED [expletives]” printed in the front.

Supporters also wore the standard red “Make America Great Again” hat, as well as variations that were comically large, or in cowboy, trucker and camouflage style. Trump himself noted an influx of the all-black “Dark MAGA” hats popularized by Elon Musk at a rally in Butler, two weeks prior. One man was dressed in a full Elvis Presley costume. While politicians and donors sported tailored suits and dress shoes, other supporters were just as comfortable in white tank tops and cowboy boots.

Several other people wore jerseys in anticipation for one of the event’s first speakers, former Steelers superstar wide receiver Antonio Brown. After ending his hall-of-fame trajectory NFL career in 2022 when he disrobed and ran off the field of a game in New Jersey, Brown has found a new calling in the political realm.

Trump’s campaign, leaning into the lighthearted and celebratory tone of the event, invited Brown, as well as fellow “Killer B’s” member Le’Veon Bell on stage for their celebrity endorsements.

During his speech, Brown led the crowd in a “fight, fight, fight” chant and plugged MAGA Memecoin, a cryptocurrency that claims to be the “#1 charity-driven crypto for veterans & child rescue.” After the speech, Mike Wallace, another former Steeler, passed out signs for the coin that depicted Trump with glowing red eyes. Finally, Brown proclaimed that Vice Presidential Candidate Tim Walz, a former high-school football defensive coordinator, couldn’t guard him and said that he was making everyone in the crowd “crackers of the day,” an award that Brown has been giving out on his X account for several months.

Brown was preceded on stage by Gold Star parents of some of the United States Marines killed during America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. The festivities kicked off with an invocation, pledge of allegiance, and performance of the national anthem.

After Brown, the event returned to its political nature, with speeches from steelworker union leaders, a tactic both candidates have used during events in the area this campaign.

Several Congressmen from Pennsylvania bathed in the spectacle before their speeches. John Joyce, R-Altoona, whipped the crowd into a frenzy by waving a Terrible Towel as he entered the stage, and Dan Mueser, R-Pottsville, entered to “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC.

The penultimate speaker of the early program was U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Arkansas, who spoke in support of Senate Candidate Dave McCormick. The latter’s bid for congress has gained steam recently, and both men mentioned that some polls are starting to project the razor-thin race between McCormick and Bob Casey for the Republican.

McCormick spoke, and after about 30 minutes, Trump’s Boeing 757 came to a stop just beyond the red-carpet that led to the podium. Anticipation increased for the next 17 minutes, until Trump descended the stair car to bells and guitar music of “Rest In Peace,” the theme song for WWE star The Undertaker.

Trump also invited the steelworkers back on stage where they gifted him a hard hat and some words of encouragement from their leader.

“You’re my hero and the greatest president ever,” he said.

Finally, Trump ended his rally as he often does, with a fist-pumping jig to The Village People’s YMCA.

To many supporters, these rallies are cultural and personal cornerstones that have a lasting impact on their lives. Austin and Brooke Hickman went on their fourth date to a Trump rally, and with their first wedding anniversary on Monday, decided to come back.

“As soon as he came here and I was off,” Austin said, “and I knew she wasn’t going to have a long day at work, we’re going. We’re going to be there one way or another.”

For as many politicians that come through town, Austin said that Trump is unlike the rest.

“There are a lot of politicians that come here, and they don’t understand what regular people need, or what our regular struggles are,” he said. “He’s not just fighting against Kamala Harris, but he’s actually fighting against the system, the system that keeps us down.”