WALKER (WKZO-AM) — It was a full house for Donald Trump at the Deltaplex Arena near Grand Rapids late Monday.
West Michigan hasn’t seen as big a political event as this since the last time Barack Obama campaigned in the area.
Trump had one proposal specifically tailored for a Michigan audience. He told the nearly 8,100 people in attendance that he wanted to impose a tariff on foreign-made vehicles.
“You have to close plants all over the place and you guys are looking for jobs?” Trump said. “It’s a disgrace.”
The big difference between the Trump appearance and the Obama stump speech, aside from the political flavor of campaign rhetoric, was the number of protestors both outside and inside the arena.
“I came here because I don’t promote hate,” one protestor said.
“I’m completely against Trump,” another said.
Inside, they interrupted his speech at least a dozen times. Trump was able to have them forcibly removed.
Trump also announced Monday that he hired a campaign director for Michigan. That announcement comes a little late in the game, but Michigan’s primary isn’t until March.
– John McNeill
