More than 90,000 requests for tickets were made for President Trump’s Johnson City appearance. A reported 20,000 watched on screens in the Freedom Hall parking lot. Photo by Scott Robertson
President Donald Trump used a Monday appearance at the Freedom Hall Civic Center in Johnson City to stump for Tennessee Republican candidates in the Nov. 6 elections. Billed as a campaign appearance on behalf of U.S. Senate candidate Marsha Blackburn, the event also featured Trump urging voters to turn out for gubernatorial candidate Bill Lee, first district Congressman Phil Roe and several other east Tennessee Republicans.
“We’re thrilled to be joined by many terrific Republican members of congress,” Trump said, “people that are friends of mine, people that have helped me, people that love your state and they love other states and they love our country. One of them is a man that everybody knows in this state very well. His name is Phil Roe and he is really always there for you.”
Among the attendees were Johnson City Chamber of Commerce Chair Andy Dietrich, Chamber President and CEO Gary Mabrey and Tri-Cities Military Affairs Council President Ernie Rumsby. Photo by Scott Robertson
Blackburn thanked the president for his support, telling the capacity crowd, “I know the Democrats keep saying there is a blue wave coming, but let me tell you something Mr. President, when that blue wave gets to the state line, it is going to run smack-dab into the great red wall.”
“We’re doing pretty good, but don’t take any chances,” Trump told the crowd, “You’ve got to go vote.”
