Trump rally today in Green Bay: Former president focuses on immigration in campaign speech
GREEN BAY - Cold wind and sleet did not deter northeastern Wisconsin Trump supporters from lining up Tuesday afternoon outside the KI Convention Center.
The former president is scheduled to speak at 5 p.m. Tuesday in downtown Green Bay in what would be his eighth visit to Green Bay and his first in four years.
The rally comes on busy day in northeastern Wisconsin. It's Election Day, when there are a host of municipal and school races as well as the presidential preference primary for Wisconsin, and the area is expecting 8 to 12 inches of snow.
Here's how the day has unfolded:
Trump wraps up Green Bay campaign stop
Republican Donald Trump kept his speech to an hour, wrapping up shortly after 6 p.m. He criticized the Biden administration over immigration at the U.S. border with Mexico.
More:Immigration and 2020 false claims: Takeaways from Donald Trump's Wisconsin rally
Trump speech begins
Trump started addressing his faithful shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday, saying he wanted to keep the speech short so people could go out and vote.
Southern border an issue for Green Bay supporter
Ron Laurent, 69 from Green Bay, wanted to see Trump in-person, having missed out on his previous Wisconsin visits. His sticking issue for this election is the southern border and the economy, he said.
"They're (undocumented immigrants) getting treated better than our military people that need help," Laurent said.
Inflation is also a big concern for Laurent. He's single, so it doesn't impact him as much. But when you can carry $100 worth of groceries in both hands, there's something wrong, he said.
— Danielle DuClos
Supporter attending her third Trump rally
Barb Austin is a regular at Trump’s appearances in Wisconsin now. This is her third rally, after she traveled from Fremont to Waukesha in 2020 and Mosinee in central Wisconsin to hear him speak. Avoiding the sleet under her red umbrella and wearing her “Smart chicks for Trump” shirt, Austin headed to the KI Convention Center after she voted for Trump earlier in the day.
“He takes the arrows for everyone and they are not after him. They’re after us,” Austin said.
She believes he’ll be victorious “by a landslide” in November, believing he also won in the 2020 election, although there have been no indications of systemic problems with voter fraud in 2020. Trump has falsely claimed he won Wisconsin in 2020.
“God always chooses imperfect people to save the world,” Austin said.
— Benita Mathew
Trump supporters find respite for cold, sleet
The line for the Trump rally stretched up into the Main Street parking ramp, where Tami Sankey of Neenah and her boyfriend, Dusty Schroeder, wore matching black Aaron Jones Green Bay Packers jerseys. Sankey, who works in real estate, said her son's time in the U.S. Army has shown her how great the United States is and she looks forward to hearing a positive message from Trump.
"People don't understand how good things are, and how much better they could be if Trump is elected," Sankey said, later adding that the housing market and general economy are major issues to her.
— Jeff Bollier
Father, daughter from Suamico believe in Trump
Father and daughter Steve and Annadee Sarokin of Suamico are regulars to Trump’s rallies in the Green Bay area. Both went to his town hall at St. Norbert College on a 2016 campaign stop. Their loyalty to Trump remains strong because he “stands for what America stands for: a strong military, a strong economy, and have everyone prosper and be safe,” Steve Sarokin said.
Steve worries about a possible conviction and how they could affect Trump’s ability to be in office, but doesn’t believe he should be convicted on any charges because “it’s a bunch of baloney.”
His daughter Annadee also plans to continue supporting him because she is “sick of” Democrats and believes Trump’s issues align with Americans.
“He has a different way of thinking, a business sense. That’s what America needs, not just another basic politician,” Annadee said.
— Benita Mathew
'Daily Show' comedian Jordan Klepper filming in Green Bay
Trump's rally also brought comedian and "The Daily Show" contributor Jordan Klepper to Green Bay. During election seasons, Klepper often travels to Trump or Republican candidates' events to conduct humorous person-on-the-street interviews with event attendees.
Klepper was spotted inside the Main Street parking ramp as crowds lined up before the doors opened at 2 p.m.
— Jeff Bollier
Trump rally in Green Bay: About 150 people at KI Convention Center as of 10 a.m.
At 10 a.m., close to 150 people were already inside at the KI Center, taking cover from the freezing rain.
Natalie, who arrived at 9 a.m. from Marinette, said her boss gave her the day off to attend the event. "This is my first rally. I planned to spend the entire day here," she said. She did not provide her last name.
Other people already in line said they came from Appleton, Oshkosh and Green Bay. Merchandise sellers — offering hats, shirts and scarfs — set up as early as 6 a.m. Tuesday, according to one seller.
More:Check out photo galleries of Donald Trump's visit to Green Bay over the years
Green Bay forecast calls for up to a foot of snow
The Green Bay area could see 8-12 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service Green Bay. The heaviest snowfall is expected to be this evening and into Wednesday.
The doors open for the Trump rally at 2 p.m. and he's scheduled to speak at 5 p.m.
This story will be updated.