Trump Ignites Tupelo Rally Crowd with Recurring Narratives

By Talbert Toole
Lifestyles Editor
talbert.toole@hottytoddy.com

President Donald Trump ascended the stage Friday night in the BancorpSouth Arena to a robust crowd. Photo by Talbert Toole.

As Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” sounded throughout Tupelo’s BancorpSouth Arena Friday night, President Donald J. Trump was greeted by a robust crowd, all eagerly trying to grab a glimpse of the commander-in-chief.

The “Keep America Great” rally took place not only days before the Mississippi general election where residents of the state will fill voting stations in pursuit of electing a new governor, but also on the heels of the U.S. House of Representatives passing a resolution to publicly open the impeachment inquiry against the sitting president.

The arena, which holds approximately 10,000 people, was filled to the brim Friday night. Many Trump supporters began tailgating in the parking lot around 7 a.m. that morning with hopes to find the perfect seat to hear the president’s remarks.

While supporters awaited Trump, several state and federal Mississippi elected politicians graced the stage to vocalize their support of the president, including gubernatorial candidate Tate Reeves.

Reeves is the Republican candidate for Mississippi governor. He will face off against Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Congressman Trent Kelly (R-MS 1st District), Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) and outgoing Gov. Phil Bryant spoke to the roaring crowd also backing Reeves as the future Mississippi governor. They each also acknowledged success Trump has brought to the country.

The impeachment of President Trump was a recurring talking point for all three politicians.

Kelly said the GOP would not stand for it.

“So do me a favor,” Kelly said. “Y’all all call Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff because their Californian folks call me all the time, and tell them we won’t stand for it.”

Video by DeAndria Turner

However, when Wicker passed through the velvet blue curtains to the left of the stage, he was met with boos from disgruntled Trump supporters followed by chants of “build the wall.”

In March, Wicker was one of 12 Republican senators who broke alliance with the president regarding the border wall.

The president then declared a national emergency to divert funds from other agencies and military funds in order to provide additional cash flow to his wall project on the southern border.

Wicker’s vote went against his Senate counterpart Cindy Hyde-Smith who voted for the declaration.

Although it took Wicker a few moments to regain the crowd’s attention, he never strayed from one point: Trump has had continuous support of Mississippi.

“Donald Trump is here time and time again because he cares about our state and our state cares about him,” Wicker said.

According to Wicker, Trump has worked with the congressional delegation on building the military and signed Wicker’s bill that made 350 military ships the law of the land.

Gov. Bryant followed Wicker’s speech hitting similar talking points, especially Tuesday’s election.

Bryant blasted Hood about being a moderate—someone who does not lean directly to the left or right of the political aisle.

“A moderate is that yellow line in the middle of the road,” Bryant said, “where the opossums get run over.”

He then followed up and said if he was to ever be called a moderate, he would hold a news conference to denounce that lie.

“I’m a pro-life, gun-toting, NASCAR loving conservative,” Bryant said.

Although the president was slated to take the stage at 7 p.m., it was not until 40 minutes past the hour before he would be met with applause from the arena.

Once the crowd settled, Trump followed his peers with several of the same talking points; however, in Trump fashion, he used his usual rhetoric in advancing those subjects.

Many of the topics the president spoke of included: the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (former ISIS leader), the “fake news” media, the infamous call with the president of Ukraine, and past political opponents, such as Hillary Clinton.

“[al-Baghdadi] is dead,” Trump said. “He was a soulless monster, but his reign of terror is over.”

According to the president and Pentagon officials, the former ISIS leader killed himself last Saturday via suicide by an explosive vest. The suicide also killed two children. The death occurred after al-Baghdadi was cornered in a dead-end tunnel in Northern Syria village during a U.S. military raid.

“American special operators executed a masterful raid that ended [al-Baghdadi’s] wretched life and punched out his ticket to hell,” he said.

Trump’s statements regarding al-Baghdadi’s death was met with an uproar of applause and cheers from his supporters in the arena.

Trump said the ISIS leader spent his last moments on earth “cowering and trembling and crying in fear at the American warrior that was right there.”

“No enemy stands in check against the righteous might of the United States military,” Trump continued. 

The president then switched positions and focused on the “radical left,” “socialism” and the media. 

Trump said all three independent entities have been working to change the country even prior to his election to the Oval Office. 

“We are the ones standing in their way,” he said. “And we will never get out of their way…Corrupt politicians Nancy Pelosi and Shifty Adam Schiff and the media are continuing with the deranged impeachment witch hunt.”

The president then pointed to the media pool, which was centered on risers in the middle of the arena. “Even the fake news media, right back there,” he said as he pointed to the media pool.

His comment was met with boos from the crowd.

During 2016, the president continuously attacked his opponent Sec. Hillary Clinton, hitting hard on her 33,000 deleted emails. 

Yet again, he brought the subject back to the forefront of his speech stating Clinton said her emails only had to do with “working out” and her daughter’s wedding. 

The statement regarding Clinton ignited his fanbase once more sparking a “lock her up” chant that filled the airwaves of the arena.

As the rally came to a close, Trump welcomed Reeves to the stage where he would again endorse the current Lt. Governor of Mississippi. 

Prior to the rally, Reeves took a moment to speak with supporters and media outlets. Although he rarely spoke of policy, Reeves used the moment to continue his attacks against AG Hood.