Trump hits Macon fewer than 48 hours before Election Day

Donald Trump made a final plea to Peach State voters Sunday morning at the Atrium Health Amphitheater in Macon.

Thousands from across Georgia, the United States and even as far as Japan stood in line Sunday to catch a glimpse of the former president. Tickets were first come first serve, with the event first being announced Friday.

Trump’s rally came on the heels of appearances by Jill Biden and Gwen Walz in Macon earlier in the week.

Trucks with Trump flags, merchandise booths and a giant crane bearing the American flag dotted the amphitheater parking lot in preparation for the Republican candidate’s arrival.

Volunteers said some people had come out as early as 1 a.m..

Wilson Rosario, a 77-year-old Warner Robins native, arrived at the rally about four hours before it was supposed to start. 

He came to the event to not only support Trump but to fight for a stronger sense of unity and a stronger military.

“We’re inspired, that’s the reason we’re here,” he said. “In case he doesn’t get it, at least we’re gonna say he shoulda gotten it, cause we’re with him 100%.” 

The amphitheater caps capacity at 10,000 people, and event staff were instructed to let in no more than 8,000. 

The stadium began to fill up at around 3:30 and guest speakers began their remarks at around 5:30 p.m.

Notable Republican party figures spoke at the rally including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and House majority leader Steve Scalise.

A handful of local figures, candidates and current office holders spoke, including state Rep. John F. Kennedy and Lt. Gov. Burt Jones.

University of Georgia football legend Herschel Walker, who ran for the Senate in 2022 as a Republican, made an appearance as well.

The onslaught of speakers hammered presidential candidate Kamala Harris and the Democratic party on immigration and inflation. A handful of speakers made reference to comments about Trump supporters being “garbage” and “deplorables.”

“If we don’t convince the people that still may not want to vote, if we do not convince them to vote for Donald Trump, then we are looking at a future that looks very dark,” Taylor Greene said.

Vickie Calhoun, a Warner Robins native, came to the rally wearing a Dr. Seuss-eqsue hat and — like a handful of others — a garbage vest, which is what Trump wore to a Wisconsin rally in response to a comment by President Joe Biden.

The rally in Macon was the third one she’s attended this week, and she keeps coming back out to support Trump and show her patriotism.

Trump was supposed to begin speaking at 6:30, but was running late because of earlier rallies in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

Supporters held up and waved red and blue signs handed out by staffers reading “Trump Will Fix It” and “Dream Big Again.”

At around 8:02 p.m. Trump took the stage donning a black MAGA cap with “God Bless America” playing in the background.

Trump went on at length about a litany of issues for an hour and a half, including getting out the vote, revising foreign policy, stopping illegal immigration and resuscitating the economy.

“The only thing I want is get out and vote, ” he said. “We’re on the five-yard line, maybe even the one-yard line, we’re right there. We had a tremendous number of early votes, a record setting number, records like nobody can believe.”

A little after 9:30 Trump finished his remarks by calling on his supporters to vote on Election Day and then walked off the stage. 

Eric Hogan, a Lizella farmer and volunteer with the Trump rally, said he came out to volunteer because “the country is in bad shape.”

“He thinks this (place) is important, not just the state but this area,” Hogan said.