Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump leaves a campaign rally, Saturday, July 29, 2023, in Erie, Pa. ERIE — Donald Trump entered Erie Insurance Arena on Saturday evening to cheering and applause, reveling in the adulation for several minutes before taking to the mic.
Mr. Trump touted the conservative successes that came during his presidency and made promises spanning immigration, education, foreign policy — including putting an end to the Ukraine war — and “Biden’s inflation.” “President Donald Trump and his four years in office accomplished more than any other president, Republican or Democrat, in my lifetime,” he said. “He made our country incredible again. We have an opportunity to do it all again.”
“We’re going to beat the Democrats, we’re going to beat them at their own game,” she said. “We cannot allow them to control the process any longer. We will not ever let them outwork us.” With the former president embroiled in several civil lawsuits and federal investigations, Mr. Tseleopis worries that Mr. Trump’s legal troubles may catch up to him and hurt his chances of becoming president for a second time. But won’t it ultimately won’t change his opinion about the candidate, he said.
Mr. Trump’s rally Saturday brought him back to Pennsylvania’s perennial swing county, one that epitomizes the political shift of white working-class communities that helped send him to the White House in 2016. When he held a rally in Erie in 2018, he left without paying a $35,129 bill from the city. This time around, the city invoiced his campaign in advance to cover overtime costs for police and other expenses.