BATTLE CREEK, MI (WKZO AM/FM) — It was an eventful day in downtown Battle Creek as President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence brought their Merry Christmas rally to a packed Kellogg Arena.
With temperatures in the teens and about three inches of snow, some supporters still lined up outside the venue early Tuesday afternoon, even when doors did not open until 3 p.m. Wednesday.
The Fire Marshal said the arena was at capacity with under 5,400. About 2,000 who did not make it into the venue watched on a big screen and in an overflow area outside, despite 14 degree temperatures.
There was not an empty seat in the arena and attendees were running out of room on the floor.
The rally began with a prayer, the pledge of allegiance, the national anthem, and then remarks from Michigan’s GOP Chair Laura Cox, Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield, and Senate candidate John James.
Many speakers and attendees kept with the Christmas theme. “Let’s vow to give Michigan a Christmas present…four more years of Donald Trump,” said Cox.
Supporters were patient as Air Force One landed at the airport later than expected. Red and green Trump/Pence signs were passed out and two Christmas trees with “Make America Great Again” hats as tree toppers were on the stage.
Attendees started the wave and danced along to the house music as the President ran about 45 minutes behind schedule. “We want Trump” the crowd began to chant as they waited.The crowd got on their feet as Vice President Pence took to the stage.
Pence’s speech was very similar to his recent talk in Holland, except with more words on the impeachment vote as expected.
“They’re trying to impeach this President because they know they can’t defeat this President,” Pence said. “Today, we have a President who loves this country…he never quits. He never backs down. He believes in you and he fights for you every single day.”Pence urged voters to flip the House of Representatives and put their support behind a local candidate.
“We’ll send John James to the Senate, and re-elect President Donald Trump for 4 more years,” Pence said. “Voters will remember in November, we will get this done in November of 2020.”
Arriving about an hour late, President Trump walked out as “God Bless the USA” played.
President Trump began his speech touting his accomplishments in office, and also threw a jab at Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
“She’s not fixing those potholes,” Trump said.
Not even 15 minutes into his speech, a heckler caused some ruckus in the arena. Trump called her disgusting, “One person who made a horrible gesture…Just forget it.”
The President also touched on how the new trade agreement could help local cereal manufacturers.
“I’ve been eating Battle Creek cereals for a long time, too much,” Trump said. “They’re still making great cereal, right? I hope?”
While his speech was taking place, the majority in the U.S. House voted to impeach the President for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. A trial will now be taken up by the Senate in January.
This makes President Trump the third president in American history to be impeached.
The President touched on the House’s vote, saying “Crazy Nancy Pelosi’s House Democrats have branded themselves with an eternal mark of shame… Democrat lawmakers believe that you do not have the right to select your President.”
He continued speaking about the impeachment proceedings against him saying that they have rested on fake evidence. “They shouldn’t even be allowed to have an impeachment, because it was based on dishonesty…it was based on illegality,” Trump stated.
The President read the impeachment results while on stage in Battle Creek.
“So we got every single Republican voting for us,” Trump said. “So we had 198, 229. We didn’t lose one Republican vote. And three democrats voted for us.”Trump touched on the latest jobs report, stating that African American unemployment is the lowest it has ever been in the history of the country.
“The whole country is doing better,” Trump said.
He also invited the Michigan team onstage, including Michigan GOP Chair Laura Cox, GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, Co-Chair of the Michigan Republican Party Terry Bowman and Speaker of the House Lee Chatfield.
Some supporters started to leave early as the rally ran past 9:45 p.m. Late into the night, Trump spoke about his changes to immigration policy and his crackdown on illegal immigrants.
“We’re making sure communities like yours have a much greater say in who gets admitted into your own neighborhoods,” Trump said.
In closing, Trump bid farewell to Battle Creek in a final statement.
“Together, we will make America wealthy again, we will make America strong again, make America safe again, and we’ll make America great again,” Trump said before thanking the crowd and departing the stage.
As last reported, Trump’s motorcade was taking him back to Air Force One following the rally.
