‘Really big rally!’ Donald Trump heads to Jersey shore to speak to thousands of supporters in district whose congressman flipped to Republicans
- Donald Trump will hold his first campaign rally since his impeachment trial began in Wildwood, N.J., on Tuesday night
- Rally comes after his lawyers wrapped up his defense in Senate trial
- Also comes same day Trump revealed his ‘vision’ for the Middle East
- Kellyanne Conway and Chris Christie will join him
- As will newly-minted Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew
Donald Trump will hold his first campaign rally since his impeachment trial began in Wildwood, N.J., on Tuesday night after his lawyers wrapped up his defense in the Senate.
The rally will also be a chance for Trump to tout his vision for the Middle East that he outlined at the White House earlier in the day and make his pitch for votes in the November election. Hillary Clinton won New Jersey in the 2016 presidential contest.
Joining the president will be some of the state’s big Republican stars, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and White House Counselor Kellyanne Conway, who was spotted bringing her children with her on Air Force One for the trip to her home state.
Donald Trump will hold his first campaign rally since his impeachment trial began in Wildwood, N.J., on Tuesday night
New Jersey natives Chris Christie and Kellyanne Conway will be at Trump’s rally
A crowd stands in the cold in front of the Wildwoods Convention Center as they wait to enter for a campaign rally with President Trump
John Barker of Lakewood, N.J., stands on the Wildwood boardwalk with a sign asking young Trump supporters to serve in the military
‘I’m going home tonight,’ Conway tweeted Tuesday.
Also on stage will be Congressman Jeff Van Drew, who switched to the Republican Party during the House impeachment inquiry.
Trump hosted the congressman in the Oval Office last month after his party switch and pledged to hold a rally for him ahead of his election this fall. Van Drew was facing a tough GOP challenger before he changed parties. That candidate has since decided to run in another election contest.
Van Drew rode to New Jersey with the president on Air Force One.
There were around 2,000 supporters waiting in line at the Wildwoods Convention Center Tuesday afternoon, according to local reports, with only 30 porta potties for the crowd.
The center has a capacity of 7,000.
‘Heading to New Jersey. Big Rally, in fact, Really Big Rally!,’ Trump tweeted in route.
Trump with Rep. Jeff Van Drew in the Oval Office last month
Jay Repko of Mays Landing, N.J., wears a Donald Trump mask as he stands with a crowd near the Wildwoods sign near the Wildwoods Convention Center
People stand in the cold in a field, as they line up to enter the Wildwoods Convention Center
Hundreds of people wait in line at the Trump Rally in Wildwood
Police watch supporters waiting to get into Trump rally
Donald Trump speaks with Jon Voight outside the Oval Office Tuesday before he left for his rally
Wildwood is a New Jersey shore town where supporters camped overnight on the beach to get a spot in line for the rally.
It’s a rare visit by the president to the state and could be one of supporters few chances to see Trump.
The president met in the Oval Office with conservative actor Jon Voight before he left for his rally.
The two men stepped out of the Oval Office and spoke outside on its colonnade for a few minutes before the president departed. Voight did not travel with President Trump.
Last week Voight tweeted that he was offering ‘high prayers’ for the president during the impeachment scandal.