Below is a timeline for President Trump’s rally at the Salem Civic Center, Sat. Nov. 2, 2024.
Fri. Oct. 25: The Trump campaign announces a rally in Salem for the last Saturday of the campaign. Free tickets are gone within hours. Observers interpret this to mean Trump’s internal polling shows him he is in a position to flip Virginia, which last voted for a Republican for president in 2004.
Fri. Nov. 1, Evening: Some fans camp out near the Salem Civic Center, hoping to get the best seats.
Sat. Nov. 2:
5:00 AM: Early fans start lining up.
8:00 AM: The Salem Civic Center Parking Lot opens.
12 Noon: Doors open and the crowd starts passing through security run by Secret Service. The security measures are similar to what one experiences at an airport or courthouse, with emptying one’s pockets and having a pat down.
Law enforcement was highly visible, with officers from Salem Police, Salem Sheriff’s Office, Roanoke County Police, State Police, and Secret Service. One attendee reported seeing snipers stationed on rooftops and the water tower.
12:15 PM: Serwan Zangana and Scott Dreyer with The Roanoke Star enter the Civic Center Parking Lot, seeking the Media table. Despite years of documented negative coverage that most of the press has given Trump, some attendees in line saw their Press badges, gave them a friendly welcome, and directed them to the Media table.
Three staff from the Trump campaign manned the table, who then checked Zangana’s and Dreyer’s credentials and gave them Press Passes for the day. They passed security and were directed to the Press area which was behind metal barricades at the very back of the auditorium. Already about one-fourth of the seats were filled as lively songs like “9 to 5” and “Sweet Home Alabama” were played.
Since Pres. Biden had days earlier made the disparaging insult that about half the country is “garbage” and Pres. Trump responded by riding in a trash truck while donning an orange worker’s vest, many in the crowd wore such vests and some had clothing referencing Biden’s remarks. There was a sea of red caps in the audience and many wore other kinds of MAGA or patriotic clothing.
The energy was palpable, with a vibe that a mix of political rally/July 4th party/Zig Ziglar motivational seminar.
Shortly past 2:00 PM: The hall, which holds approximately 6,820 people, was nearly full, with chairs around the perimeter of the floor for people with wheelchairs or walkers unable to climb stairs. The program began with an invocation. The crowd fell respectfully silent and men removed their hats. This was in contrast to a recent Kamala Harris rally where some attendees cried out “Christ is King” and “Jesus is Lord,” to which Harris replied, “You’re at the wrong rally” as her crowd cheered.
2:15 PM: Roanoke veteran Bill Rhodes led the crowd in the pledge of allegiance, followed by the Southern Gospel Trio “The Isaacs” singing the National Anthem.
2:25 PM: Marine and Lt. Governor Winsome Sears began a series of barnburner speeches. Striding across the stage waving her scarf like a cowboy’s lasso and clad in a red blazer, Sears opened with: “Because that’s what it’s about! It’s about winning, Virginia! Because there’s a lot of confusion and craziness going on…and we’re not gonna stand for it! Donald Trump is going to bring back common sense! You all know, I’m a Christian first and a Republican second. Trump said, ‘God saved my life, and I humbly ask for your support,’ and I said, ‘That’s a man I can support, because he cares about America.'”
Addressing how many feel uneasy about the choices this year, Sears claimed, “Folks, let me tell you something. We are not voting for the lesser of two evils. No! We are voting for the lessening of evil!”
2:32 PM: Captain Hung Cao, who is running to unseat incumbent Tim Kaine, told a bit of his life story of how his family escaped Communism when South Vietnam fell in 1975. “We had nowhere to run to, but this amazing country called the United States took us in. America saved my life, and I grabbed onto that American Dream. I went to the top schools in the country. The United States Naval Academy. MIT. Harvard, and do you know what? I paid back every dime of that American Dream! (…) I fought for us in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia, and now I’m running for US Senate, because our country’s taken a dark turn.” Hung Cao served in the US Navy for 25 years, in Special Forces and as a Captain.
2:37 PM: Attorney General Jason Miyares, clad in a bright yellow worker’s vest, led Virginia’s lawsuit that the US Supreme Court upheld, that only US citizens can vote in Virginia’s elections. “Is it controversial, that only American citizens can vote in American elections? Of course not! Listen, you’re here and you’re firemen, you’re policemen, you’re small business owners, your moms and dads, and one thing you’re not? You’re not garbage. And you’re here because you know there’s something wrong with our country (…) At minimum, 8.2 million illegal crossings at our southern border.”
2:43 PM: Rep. Ben Cline represents Virginia’s 6th Congressional District, that runs from the Roanoke Valley up through the Shenandoah Valley to Winchester. “I’m excited for this ticket. Some of you folks back there in the Press may not realize it, but you’re in the Backcountry, that won the Revolution!”
2:49 PM: Rep. Morgan Griffith, who represents the 9th Congressional District from the Roanoke area to the Tennessee/Kentucky line, spoke with an engaging cadence that was a mix politician/preacher/auctioneer. He pointed out how “many of the counties of Southwest Virginia were hit by Hurricane Helene, and many of you who were hit by that storm are here today.”
3:00 PM: Gov. Glenn Youngkin took the stage with his 2021 campaign song, “Spirit in the Sky.” He praised Virginia’s first responders, who not only conducted over 100 life-saving rescues, but also helped save lives in Tennessee. “Our first responders run to danger, when others run away. God bless our first responders.”
4:00 PM: Pres. Trump was scheduled to speak, but because of a delay coming in from his Charlotte rally that morning, he was delayed. The audience waited patiently; none were observed leaving the auditorium.
Trevor Jones of Blue Ridge wrote this account of his experience that day: “When my friend and I arrived at the Civic Center complex just before 11:30, all of the parking lots, side streets, and fields around the Civic Center were full. We turned around, and after a few minutes of looking, we were able to find a place to park near the YMCA. By 11:45, we arrived back at the rally and got in the back of the line to get inside.
“Once in line, we realized pretty quickly that there were so many people there in front of us, that it was unlikely we were going to make it inside. When the doors opened at noon, and the line started moving, I was able to get a better view of everything. By my estimates, there were about 20k people in front of us, and by the time the line started moving, there were another 10k-15k people that had arrived behind us.
“Around 2:00, the program started, and all of us outside were watching the program on the projector scream while moving in line.
“The line continued to move until around 3:00, then it stopped and quickly dissolved. I assume that is when the doors were closed, and they stopped letting people in the building. At that point, my friend and I were only about half way through the line. We followed as everyone gathered around the projector screen. Looking around, there were still probably 20k people out there watching the screen.
“Everyone I encountered at the rally seemed excited to be there. Everyone was polite and cooperated well with the event organizers. I saw very few protestors/detractors. The ones I saw were mostly ignored by the other attendees and ended up leaving on their own.”
5:35 PM: President Trump took the stage and spoke for about an hour and a half. He pointed out that he did not speak from a teleprompter. Demonstrating incredible energy, this was his second rally of the day, and when this one was over, he was to fly to Greensboro for an evening event.
His speech included a wide array of topics, including inflation, energy independence, wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the botched Afghanistan exit, the weaponization of the federal government against him and many of his allies, the need to be strong in the face of our global adversaries, etc.
A common theme was how much better the US was during his tenure and how incompetent the Biden/Harris administration has been in comparison.
Some of the most gripping moments of the day came when they ran a video interviewing the mother of Jocelyn Nungaray, a 12-year-old Texan who was killed by two Venezuelans in the US illegally.
Trump then invited to the podium the family of Kayla Hamilton, a 20-year-old autistic woman who was raped, strangled, and murdered in Maryland by a 17-year-old illegal alien MS-13 member from El Salvador.
A highlight of the event came when Pres. Trump invited the Roanoke College women’s swim team to the platform with him. The hearty endorsements from President Trump and Governor Youngkin stand in stark contrast to the name-calling and intimidation from some Democrat members of Roanoke City Council, including mayoral candidate Joe Cobb. Before the swimmers had their press conference last fall, those members released a letter aimed at the athletes and their allies, stating “Hate Has No Home in Roanoke,” seemingly unaware that abusing one’s position of power to bully young women into silence is itself a hateful behavior.
Several mothers of the swimmers had these exclusive comments for The Roanoke Star.
“The rally was amazing and it was great to see so many Virginian’s show up for such a positive event. I applaud that many call our girls “Brave” but it also makes me sad that they are called brave for standing up for common sense. Those against them claim to be so open minded but maybe with all that open-mindedness, their common sense has slipped out. These young women are standing up for women’s rights and fairness in sports that so many women before them fought for. Shame on those that claim to be pro-woman but will not stand up for all the girls playing sports. It’s great to see other teams across the nation standing together to stop this nonsense.” — Wendy Schart, mother of Halle Schart, Charleston, SC
***
“The positive energy at the rally was very inspiring. Even after long lines of traffic, full parking lots and what looked like never ending lines of security, people were talking to strangers, laughing and having a great time together despite what the legacy media would have you believe.
“In lieu of the comment from Mark Cuban, I would like him to take note of the strength and intelligence exhibited by the women who stood up and spoke out for themselves and generations to come. They are the leaders of the future that will secure a brighter tomorrow with truth and reality not a warped ideology cloaked in intolerance.
“These swimmers stick to their message of women’s safe spaces and fair competition yet the legacy media and any of their critics try and change the narrative as opposing LBGTQ+ people. I can not say it loud enough or more clearly, THIS IS NOT ANTI TRANS, BUT PRO WOMEN! A man transitioned or not does not have the right to be in a private space with women nor do they have the right to dominate them in sports!” — Cady Mullens, mother Team Captain Lily Mullens, Ohio
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“Being able to attend this historical rally with my daughter is an honor and memory I will have for a lifetime. The courage and bravery these Roanoke College women swimmers showed is inspiring to so many women and men across our country who also believe men don’t belong in women’s sports. These RC women swimmers are the voice of millions. Surgery does not change DNA…it’s common sense. Women and girls deserve to be protected and have a fair playing field when competing. President Donald Trump is the candidate of common sense…he has vowed to protect and save women’s sports. He will get the job done! We stand behind him!” –Jennifer Pearson, mother of Kate Pearson
***
“Seeing my daughter on the stage with her team mates and President Donald Trump reinforced my faith that God is using these young women to continue to stand against the discrimination of women in sports. Having a leader who supports women and will protect them from the onslaught of the woke trying to erase women is so critical. Women deserve equal opportunity and fairness in sports and in life. I believe President Trump will be true to his word to keep men out of women’s sports. I am proud to have President Trump as an ally for all women in all sports.” — Lisa Blankenship, mother of Katie Blankenship, Atlanta
Shortly past 7:00 PM: The rally ended after President wrapped up his remarks, danced to the song “YMCA” to the delight of the audience, and left the stage.
Much has been made of the years-long unfair treatment the press has had for Trump and his supporters. Many have called the MAGA movement “hateful” and “divisive.” But as the attendees were leaving, one woman approached this writer, who was still in the press pen, with a concerned look on her face. She had seen a laptop unattended in the other media pen, and she wanted someone to know about it as she said, “I’m afraid someone will steal it.”
Upon checking, it turned out the laptop belonged to a Trump team member who was still present. However, that lady’s kindness toward a group that has certainly been unkind to her shows the charitable spirit present at the rally and the hope that we as Americans can overcome the divisiveness and again work together for the common good.
The exit was quiet and orderly. No protestors were observed. There seemed to be an unspoken consensus among the attendees that we’re at an historic moment, the stakes are high, and now it’s in the hands of the voters…and God.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5.
View here:
Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears’ Speech
Attorney General Jason Miyares’ Speech
Gov. Youngkin’s and President Trump’s Speech
–Scott Dreyer