WAUKESHA 鈥 The scene outside the Waukesha Expo Center on Wednesday before, during and after the Donald Trump rally was an apt microcosm of Waukesha County itself 鈥 mostly conservative people with a minority in opposition, completely peaceful and overwhelmingly cordial despite differing views, and positive vibes in the air.
That notion was perfectly embodied by Carl Faby and Eli Hart, both of Waukesha, who sat on the lawn apron across the street from the Expo Center as Trump spoke inside. Faby had signs saying "guilty guilty guilty" and "lock him up," which he said generated some negative reactions. He said he was there "trying to bring truth to people." Hart wore a red MAGA hat, yet the two sat next to each other in the sun in a friendly exchange.
"I think we鈥檙e both Americans. I don鈥檛 know why we can鈥檛 sit here and talk about others鈥 beliefs. I think that鈥檚 been lost the last few years," Faby said.
A couple of blocks east, Scott and Sue Center of Whitewater displayed a sign saying their town was being "invaded." They said the immigrants, mostly men and not family units, were brought in "hush hush," and engage in drinking and littering causing families to avoid using a local beach. They were unable to get into the rally, arriving after gates were closed due to capacity, but watched it live via the internet.
About 100 yards away sat a group from Voces de la Frontera, holding a banner reading "You profit from our work, recognize our humanity." They also appeared a May Day march in Milwaukee earlier in the day and felt it was important to attend both.
"We鈥檙e not partisan, but we鈥檙e also not in support of Trump鈥檚 policies," Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of the group, said. "We don鈥檛 support family separation, we don鈥檛 support dictatorship, and that鈥檚 not the America we want."
At the same time, she said, the group marched to put pressure on Joe Biden to do more to help Latinos and young people 鈥 blocs whose votes he needs. "He needs to do more before November to inspire connections with families and friends ... to build a powerful network," she said. There were remarkably few protesters offering dissenting voices to the MAGA crowd, which was so dense that within a half-hour of the doors opening at 11 a.m. the Expo Center lots were closed to additional general admission. People arrived as early as 7 a.m. to hear the former president speak at 1:30 p.m., coming from as far away as Chicago and Appleton.
Lines of people snaked through the Expo parking lot several hours before the guest of honor arrived, creating an atmosphere in which the excitement was palpable. But also peaceful 鈥 Waukesha County Sheriff鈥檚 Department spokesman Lt. Nick Wenzel reported "no issues, no problems," other than one man who was removed from the Trump rally itself.
Attendees cheered in excitement as a group called Chicago-Red approached the line, waving a flag saying "Illinois for Trump." Illinois Republican congressional candidate Mark Rice pressed the flesh with many people, some who are his would-be constituents. He said he wanted to hear Trump talk about how he鈥檇 manage the border and get crime under control. He said he finds Wisconsin friendlier to red state values more than Illinois.
"I am excited for his win in the general election. He鈥檚 awesome and I support him. There鈥檚 lots of people in Illinois who won鈥檛 say that, even Republicans," he said.
A wave of excitement rose from the crowd as Mike Lindell of MyPillow fame debated You-Tuber Adam Mockler of Meidas Touch, who peppered him with critical questions in an interview, with many onlookers interjecting with comments challenging Mockler鈥檚 questions. Afterward, Lindell said the interviewer missed his point about election integrity.
"My biggest fight is to secure our elections and go to paper ballots, hand counted. ... It鈥檚 the most important election. All the stuff we learned the last three years which other countries already know you can鈥檛 vote early and you got to get rid of the computers. All these other countries have outlawed early voting and computers. The United States has the worst election platforms of any country in the world," Lindell said.
When asked whether he thought Trump鈥檚 legal issues would affect his electoral chances, Lindell said he believes they help him.
"Donald Trump, all the stuff they are doing to him, around the world everybody knows it鈥檚 an attack, it鈥檚 a political attack, because the uniparty does not want him in place to clean up all the corruption and they don鈥檛 want him in there to save our country. They have an agenda. There is no reason there should be open borders and fentanyl pouring in and killing our people," he said. "I think every time he鈥檚 indicted his polls go up, so we know that, his polls keep going up and when he gets out of these courtrooms he鈥檚 able to get the word out ... the word on what he鈥檚 going to do as president. He鈥檚 already got a proven record. All the bad things going on in our country now with the economy and everything is helping him more than all the good things that he did put together. It鈥檚 a combination we鈥檝e never had before."
After the speech, several people told The Freeman Trump inspired his supporters, touching on many important topics in a mostly extemporaneous delivery.
Waukesha County Supervisor Peter Wolff said, "He believes in what he says. He definitely energized the crowd and I bet he can do the same for the country."
Tom Rakowski, a Donald Trump impersonator from Wind Lake, posed for pictures with attendees and, much like Trump, made the day into a business opportunity, saying he handed out over 100 business cards, as he makes appearances at events. He said everyone he met was very nice. He said it was the second time at a Trump rally where the Secret Service moved him from his seat, moving him from the second row to the back of the hall. But he said he enjoyed Trump鈥檚 speaking style as he was "very articulate" on many subjects.
Keith Best, who is active in the county Republican Party but speaking his own personal opinion to a reporter, enjoyed the way Trump interacted with attendees and said he feels Trump has an excellent chance at winning the election.
P. Rae Easily of Chicago-RED said her group was there to dispel the notion that the MAGA movement is unwelcoming to black voters, as many have become disillusioned with Democratic policies. She said Trump鈥檚 speech "made me feel very positive for the country because now it feels we鈥檙e going into an abyss but my Donnie is coming to save us."
Ivy Richards, 11, was there with her mother, Amy, a Kettle Moraine School Board member. The girl said she liked Trump鈥檚 speech because he was "speaking the truth. You just know Donald Trump know more and is going to be more helpful."
Matt Mareno, chairman of the Democratic Party of Waukesha County, issued a statement in the wake of Trump鈥檚 visit which said: "Donald Trump came to Waukesha today in the hopes that his outlandish behavior and continued lies would distract from his ongoing courtroom crises and disastrous agenda for his ideal second term. In his own words, we know that a second term of Donald Trump would see him undo popular legislation like the Affordable Care Act that keeps kids on their parents鈥 insurance until they are 26, and protects folks with pre-existing conditions. He would undo the Inflation Reduction Act which is the largest investment in America ever and allows for seniors to save thousands on their prescription drugs and protects diabetics who require insulin to survive. All of this while he would cut Social Security and Medicare to pay for a massive tax break for rich folks like himself and his biggest donors.
"No matter what Donald Trump says or where he goes the women of Waukesha County know that another Trump presidency would spell the end to reproductive freedoms as he cuts (in-vitro fertilization), passes a national abortion ban, and works with states to track and jail women who seek reproductive health care."
