The Republican candidate was in Detroit on Friday evening to try to mobilize voters in this key state. Franceinfo was there.
A cloud of red dots. Even when visiting Detroit (Michigan) for the first time, it is not difficult to find the convention center where Donald Trump’s meeting is taking place on Friday, October 18. Just follow the dozens of scarlet “Make America Great Again” caps (named after the slogan “Make America Great Again,” often condensed into the acronym “Maga”) jostling at the entrance to the large building. glazed. Their owners all came to listen to the Republican candidate for the presidency of the United States, who is seeking to mobilize voters, eighteen days before the election.
It’s 4 p.m., and Donald Trump is only expected in three hours. However, there are already hundreds of them crowding between the barriers which lead to the security gates. In the aisles, where the heat increases with the number of people waiting, people compete in inventiveness to show their support for the billionaire.
There are the most classic ones, in a red and blue sweater or with the American flag in hand. Hunters, in embroidered fatigues “Trump 2024”and athletes, in flocked football jerseys “second amendment” (which guarantees the carrying of weapons). There is also a range of slogan t-shirts: “ultra-Self”, “rabbis with Trump”, “I vote for a criminal” – a nod to his conviction in the Stormy Daniels affair – or even “We, the people, are pissed” – in reference to the first sentence of the American Constitution.
To make the time pass faster, Donald Trump supporters get to know their neighbors. Nothing better to start the conversation than to criticize or fuel rumors about Democrats. On the right, a woman criticizes the Joe Biden administration for having “dragged to rescue” the victims after the passage of Hurricane Milton in North Carolina. Further, a man accuses NBC of having edited an interview with Kamala Harris to present her in a more favorable light. Not enough to captivate two children taken by their parents, sitting on the ground boredly.
Finally, the long serpentine of Trumpists is set in motion. Around a wall covered with signs promising to “make Detroit great again”a huge room houses several hundred chairs arranged in circles around a platform. While some rush to get the best seat, others are already starting to queue in front of the small snack and drinks stand, which fills the air with the smell of caramel popcorn.
Seeing Donald Trump is worth it. Jamie, 49, drove 2.5 hours across Michigan to attend this meeting. “It’s the first time I’m going to see him, I still don’t believe it”confides this mother of three children, with tattooed arms and long brown hair. Justin, futuristic sunglasses on his nose despite the darkness of the room, arrives from Chicago, in the state of Illinois. “I support Trump 70% for his program, and 30% for his personality”explains this 30-year-old African-American. We even meet two 19-year-old Canadians. "Our father works in Detroit," justify the twins, Jack and Jonah.
“We’re conservative, so we were curious to see Donald Trump. Even if we don’t vote here, he’s a captivating speaker.”
Jack, a Canadianat franceinfo
The minutes pass, and the first responders heat up the room. Entrepreneurs, local elected officials, then Stephen Miller, advisor to the ex-president, take the stage. The audience is stamping its feet. Every time the loudspeaker crackles, the audience sits up straight in their seats, hoping that the arrival of the billionaire will be announced. Finally, Donald Trump enters, surrounded by Secret Service agents. From the middle of the room, where Jamie is sitting, we first see only the blonde locks of the Republican, who takes the time to savor the ovation before approaching the microphone.
Almost 8 p.m.: Donald Trump finally speaks. “Are you in a better situation than you were four years ago?”he says to the crowd, who respond with a “non” deafening. The billionaire continues with a speech calibrated for his audience. Former flagship of the automobile industry, Detroit has declined over the decades and relocations, recalls the New York Times. In recent years, Michigan’s largest city has regained dynamism. But the Democrats’ program, and in particular their ambition to reduce CO2 emissions and develop electric vehicles, “will kill Detroit”accuses Donald Trump. He plans to develop the production of fossil fuels and “produce in America”.
After only ten minutes, the Republican’s diatribe took an unexpected turn. As he prepares to unveil his “favorite word in the dictionary” – “not love, nor respect” more “customs duties” –his microphone breaks. Looking quite annoyed, Donald Trump paces the stage from left to right. Then tries to speak again, without success. “The technician must be a democrat”jokes a man sitting behind Jamie.
After twenty minutes of forced pause and encouragement from the audience, Donald Trump’s voice rang out. “It’s the worst microphone in history, I’m not going to pay the bill”blurted the billionaire, in a mixture of irritation and humor. No time to waste. The Republican resumes his virulent attacks against Kamala Harris, according to him “of crass incompetence”the migrants, that he wants “expel massively”and transgender people. He also promises to push “the whole world talking about Detroit, Michigan and America”. Donald Trump only interrupts to give the audience time to give him a standing ovation, or to boo the Democrat.
The speech is punctuated by campaign clips, broadcast on two giant screens on each side of the room. The format is almost always the same: anxiety-provoking music, a commentary on the supposedly devastating effects of immigration or Democratic policies, and a montage of very short extracts from interviews with Kamala Harris, taken out of context. The public watches them religiously, before whistling copiously at Donald Trump’s opponent
Promising one last time to offer them a future “full of opportunities and hope”, the ex-president calls on his supporters to go “vote as soon as possible”so that he gets a “tidal wave” next November 5. “Fight, vote, win!”he insists. In response, the audience raises their fists and chants “fight, fight !”repeating the word and gesture he made moments after surviving an assassination attempt in July.
While the first notes of YMCA resound, signaling the end of the meeting, Donald Trump performs a few dance steps. Then, he comes down from the stage, greets activists on his way, and disappears amid applause.
