President Trump holds rally on 100th day of presidency
Rachel Looker and Alex Weidner
Photo credit/ Alex Weidner
President Trump waved to and greeted the crowd on his way to and from the podium.
May 2, 2017
President Trump held a “Donald J. Trump Make America Great Again Rally” at the PA Farm Show Complex & Expo Center in Harrisburg, PA on April 29 on the same evening as the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner.
Attendees stood in a line that weaved throughout the parking lot to see the president speak. Many showed their support for Trump with t-shirts, hats and signs that read “Make America Stronger Again,” “Women for Trump,” “Make America Proud Again” and “Drain the Swamp.”
Pennsylvania Congressman Scott Perry spoke before Vice President Mike Pence and President Trump took the stage.
“I thank God every day Donald J. Trump is the President of the United States,” said Perry. “We are going to make America wonderful again.”
After the opening speakers, Pence spoke to supporters and reviewed Trump’s first 100 days in office.
Pence mentioned President Trump’s approval of the Keystone and Dakota Access pipelines, his tax cut plan, his work to appeal Obamacare, the signing of executive orders and the appointment of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court.
“It’s been 100 days of action, 100 days of consequence and 100 days that will be remembered as the days we began to make America great again,” said Pence.
He added that Trump has been “fulfilling promises” and has “turned America around” under his presidency.
Trump entered the arena and said there is no place he’d rather be than in Pennsylvania to celebrate his 100th day.
“I love this state and I love the people of this state,” said Trump. “It’s special and it carried us to a big, beautiful victory on Nov. 8.”
Trump began his speech by mentioning how the White House Correspondents’ dinner was currently taking place in Washington D.C.
“A large group of Hollywood actors and Washington media are consoling each other in a ballroom in the nation’s capital right now,” said Trump.
Trump said he “could not be more thrilled” to be in Pennsylvania and away from D.C. with a “much, much larger crowd and much better people.”
According to Trump, there is a good chance he will show up in Pennsylvania next year during the White House Correspondents’ dinner.
During his speech, Trump criticized the media, calling CNN and MSNBC “fake news” while the crowd booed the press.
Trump spoke about many of his accomplishments in his first 100 days, specifically mentioning the strong foundations he has formed with foreign leaders, the rise of the stock market and his acts on immigration control.
“We need safety. We need cameras … and we need the wall,” said Trump. “And we will build the wall.”
Trump mentioned his campaign promise to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, which he described as “dying, dying, dying.”
Throughout Trump’s speech, law enforcement officers removed several attendees from the arena, many for what appeared to be disruptive behavior.
Trump reaffirmed his campaign slogan at the end of his speech and said, “together we will make America strong again, we will make America wealthy again, we will make America prosper again.”
Not all attendees of the rally have been fully satisfied with Trump’s first 100 days.
Brandon Gass from Lebanon, PA attended the rally and said he is not pleased with Trump’s progress as president, but is “content with where we’re going.”
“I think if Trump slows down, focuses a little bit more … we might have a chance to get some stuff by these guys and start improving the country,” said Gass.
Others, like Kristen Banzandt of Allegheny City, Maryland, said she is proud of Trump’s progress and came to the rally to support her president.
Banzandt said President Trump is doing a “fabulous job” and is pleased with “telling the world that we’re back by our military actions.”
After the rally, a group of protesters held signs to show their opposition for President Trump outside of the complex.
Denise Wilmarth, one of the protesters from Harrisburg, said she was protesting because she believes in humanity and compassion.
“Every time he opens his mouth, he’s making up another lie,” said Wilmarth. “Blaming the media for his failure … his failure to take responsibility for anything he does.”
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