Former President Donald Trump drew a massive crowd of over 40,000 supporters at a campaign rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, despite facing ongoing legal challenges. Attendees expressed optimism about Trump's chances in the 2024 election, citing concerns over the economy, immigration, and the state of the country.
Former President Donald Trump rallied an enthusiastic crowd of over 40,000 supporters in Wildwood, New Jersey, on Saturday, signaling his ongoing popularity ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
The rally, which drew supporters from across the state and beyond, was billed as the largest political rally in New Jersey's history. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), who spoke before Trump, echoed this sentiment, dubbing it "an incredible outpouring of support."
Many attendees expressed confidence that Trump could flip the Garden State in November, when he hopes to reclaim the White House for a second term. Rod Delaine, an Amazon factory worker from Staten Island who lives in New Jersey, drove nearly two-and-a-half hours to attend the rally. He told Fox News Digital that he believes Trump is the best candidate to address the country's current challenges.
"I think this country needs to change — although, we already know what Trump's all about," said another supporter, who identified himself as Carlos. "So, that change is just going to come right back to us because that's what we need. We need Trump because I don't think Biden is just getting the job done right now."
Economic concerns were a major theme among rally attendees. A New Jersey schoolteacher, who identified herself as Anna, said she was motivated to attend because of the state of the economy. "Things are not going well," she said. "We need a change."
Frank from Pennsylvania, who owns a small landscaping business, echoed these sentiments. "Finding help is hard," he said. "And the cost of fuel and everything has just been outrageous." He expressed hope that Trump would bring back prosperity and stability.
Immigration also emerged as a key issue for attendees. Lucille from Forked River, New Jersey, said "immigration" and "closing the borders" were her top priorities. Ronnie Felino from New Jersey added that she was "absolutely terrified" about the current state of border security.
Despite the ongoing legal challenges that Trump faces, his supporters remained steadfast in their belief in him. Lisa Stelling, who drove from Westchester County, New York, to attend the rally, said she was a "convert" to Trump's cause. "I was taking stuff at face value and the minute the walls came crumbling down, I just started [going] deep into everything," she said, implying that her views had shifted after conducting her own research.
Stelling argued that there were many more like her who were quietly supporting Trump despite the negative media coverage. "The secret to Donald Trump winning this year is that there are a whole bunch of silent majority Trump supporters who hiding in the shadows because of all the nonsense that happened," she said. "They're going to come out and they going to vote big time."
