If Trump didn't scare the Republican Party before he succeeded today because of the attendance at this rally. However, it is still almost completely unlikely that he could ever be elected President. The Democrats will be loving this. However, he has already changed the dialog in regard to immigration which is not good for most candidates except for Bush.
Trump draws thousands in Phoenix, continues immigration theme
| CNN | - |
(CNN)
At what was his largest campaign event yet -- with a huge U.S. flag
stretched from one side of the stage to the other -- Donald Trump
addressed his faithful followers Saturday at the Phoenix Convention
Center.
Trump draws thousands in Phoenix, continues immigration theme
Story highlights
- Republican presidential candidate tells huge crowd he will release his financial information this week
- He again slams leaders of the United States and says he would be a smarter leader
- Protesters briefly unfurl banner before short scuffle breaks out and security intervenes
(CNN)At
what was his largest campaign event yet -- with a huge U.S. flag
stretched from one side of the stage to the other -- Donald Trump
addressed his faithful followers Saturday at the Phoenix Convention
Center.
Two dozen supporters
stood behind the Republican presidential candidate holding signs
reading, "Trump, Make America Great Again," while an estimated 5,000
supporters looked on.
Expressing his
amazement at the size of the crowd, Trump said, "This is unbelievable.
This began as 500 people in a ballroom in Phoenix."
The
campaign was asked to move to a larger venue to accommodate the
thousands of people who wanted tickets, according to Trump spokeswoman
Hope Hicks.
The Trump campaign said
15,000 tickets were distributed for the event at the Phoenix Convention
Center, where the North Ballroom has a capacity of only 4,200, according
to the facility's website. The campaign said thousands were turned away
because of fire regulations.
The
candidate was welcomed by several high-profile supporters, including
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, whose stands against illegal
immigration and often controversial punishments have earned him a reputation as a hard-nosed, unyielding lawman.
During
his speech, Trump turned the lectern over to Jamiel Shaw Sr., the
father of a high school student killed by an undocumented immigrant, who
spoke about why he is supporting the candidate.
Although
campaign aides said earlier Saturday that Shaw was going to introduce
the candidate, he ended up speaking midway through the speech.
Shaw's son, a high school football star, was shot and killed in Los Angeles in 2008 by a gang member born in Mexico. On Friday,
Trump met in Los Angeles with Shaw and other family members of victims
of crimes perpetrated by undocumented immigrants. He then gave a lengthy
press conference in which he consistently railed against illegal
immigration. Saturday's speech was filled with similar words.
Brief disturbance
Playing
to the crowd, Trump dug in on the controversial themes that have made
him loved by some and despised by others. As he mentioned earlier in the
day at a Las Vegas campaign rally, Trump claimed China is laughing at
U.S. trade negotiations. "They have geniuses and we have people who
don't have a clue. We have stupid leaders," he said.
Trump,
who announced his White House campaign bid last month, sparked national
outrage by saying that some people crossing the border into the United
States from Mexico were "rapists" and "criminals." A slew of
corporations, including Macy's, NBC and ESPN, responded to his
inflammatory remarks by severing business ties with the real estate
magnate.
"I love the Mexican people,"
he said. "I love their spirit. I respect Mexico as a country. Their
leaders are much sharper and smarter than ours."
But, Trump said, "They're killing us at the border and killing us in trade."
Donald Trump's empire 16 photos
Trump
also promised to release financial documents next week that will show
he is an even more successful businessman than has been reported.
"I'm not saying that to brag," he said.
A
short protest broke out during the speech. Some protesters held up a
banner and Trump supporters started screaming at them. It was unclear
what the banner read.
There was a brief scuffle and for a few minutes it was very tense. Security came and escorted the protesters out.
"I wonder if the Mexican government sent them over here," Trump said.
"Don't worry, we'll take our country back," he said, as the crowd cheered.
'He can inspire a crowd'
Robert
Bowater said he came to see Trump in Phoenix because he thinks the
issues of illegal immigration and sanctuary cities deserve more
attention.
Bowater, a 68-year-old
resident of Pinal County, Arizona, said he doesn't expect any President
to deport all undocumented immigrants, but he thinks more can be done to
punish the ones who commit crimes in the United States.
"I'd like to see a mass deportation of the criminals," Bowater said.
Just
as Bowater was saying he thought it was possible that Trump could win
the presidency, Linda Murtha -- standing behind him -- couldn't help but
shake her head.
"He can't win," said Murtha, a Chandler resident in her early 40s, but "he definitely can inspire a crowd."
She
came to the event with her mother, Provi Murtha, who was interested in
seeing "The Donald" in person. Like her daughter, Provi is skeptical of
Trump's intentions. She noted that he's donated to Democrats, including
Hillary Clinton.
"Is he a Democrat? Is
he a Republican? What is he?" Provi wondered aloud. Even though she came
to see the event, "I'm not going to make up my mind to vote for Donald
Trump, that's for sure."
Both Provi and Linda Murtha said they like Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.
Freedom Fest warm-up
In a warm-up to his appearance at the Phoenix campaign rally, Trump stopped by Freedom Fest in Las Vegas, an annual gathering of conservatives, where he addressed a crowd of several hundred people and took questions.
But
first he called Shaw to the stage. The room was hushed as Shaw talked
about his son who was gunned down seven years ago by an undocumented
immigrant. Shaw said the man who killed his son had been released from a
county jail on his third gun charge, four months early. His son was
walking home, and was close enough for Shaw to hear the gunshots.
Shaw
said he almost thinks of Trump "as a father figure" even though the two
are similar in age. "He's the kind of man you would want to be your
dad," Shaw said. "He's a nice guy. He put himself out there for black
people. I know I can trust him," Shaw continued.
He
said when Trump spoke out about illegal immigration he saw that "Trump
loves America" and is willing to risk his life for it.
Trump doubles down -- again
Trump doubled down once more on comments that have ignited a controversy in the United States
Illegal immigration is "a major, major problem in this country" that has to be solved, Trump said.
Victim's father: 'I trust Donald Trump' 04:00
Promising
to secure U.S. borders with a impenetrable fence, Trump claimed
undocumented immigrants are coming to the United States from all over
the world. "This isn't just Mexico," he said. "They're coming from the
Middle East, and we better be very careful," Trump warned.
And
the support that he is receiving from Shaw and others demonstrates that
the businessman's message is appealing to some voters who view illegal
immigration as a serious problem.
On
the subject of trade, Trump was blunt with his opinion of U.S. trade
negotiators, "Chinese leaders are much smarter than (President Barack)
Obama and his bunch of clowns," he said to laughter and applause from
crowd.
"I make good deals. I have great respect for China. Their leaders are too smart for our leaders," he said.
Trump fervor increasing
Trump's fervor appears to increase with each campaign rally as he ramps up his rhetoric against illegal immigration.
Detractors
are many, including some in his own party, but Trump is gaining
supporters as well -- evidenced by the switch in venues for Saturday's
event to the Phoenix Convention Center. Trump tweeted Saturday night
that he would not be attending the Miss USA Pageant in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana, on Sunday because he had campaign stops scheduled in Phoenix.
Trump is a partial owner of the Miss Universe Organization, which
oversees the pageant.
A CNN/ORC poll released July 1 found Trump and Republican rival, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, on the rise nationally.
The
two are the only GOP presidential contenders to enjoy double-digit
support among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents.
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