A Henderson, Nevada,
A suburb of Las Vegas, Henderson has more than 300,000 inhabitants, making this wealthy city the second largest in Nevada. This is where Donald Trump chose to come on Thursday to hold a meeting at Lee's Family Forum, a room which hosts the Silver Knights hockey team with a capacity of more than 6,000 people.
A few days before the presidential election, the visit of the former president and Republican candidate, of course, attracted several thousand enthusiastic supporters confident in his victory. Several hours before the doors opened in the late morning, endless lines stretched as far as the eye could see. These supporters, a motley crowd of all origins – white, African-American, Asian and Latino – contrast with the image of Donald Trump's voters. Everyone seems united in one and the same hope: his return to the White House.
Unfailing optimism about Trump's victory
Under the watchful eye of Secret Service agents and local police, the participants, well prepared and wearing flags, caps and t-shirts in the colors of the “Trump 2024” campaign, displayed unfailing optimism. For them, a victory for Kamala Harris is simply not possible. Through their testimonies, an unshakeable certainty is expressed, coupled with a certain distrust towards the electoral system. Some voices will still say conspiracy theorists.
Deborah Harris, a Las Vegas resident who, despite a broken leg, would not miss a Donald Trump meeting for anything, sums up the prevailing state of mind. “I think Trump will win. I even think it will be a tidal wave,” she asserts with confidence. “To me, he won the last election. It's a conspiracy theory for some, but I don't think he lost in 2020. This year, I don't see any reason for him to lose unless there is fraud. Donald Trump supporters are not the monsters they describe. No, we are not going to burn the Capitol, but in the event of defeat it may be time to act,” she said without further comment.
There is still distrust of the electoral system
This distrust of electoral integrity is shared by Jimmy Liu, a Californian who came especially for the event. Like Deborah Harris, he sees only one possible explanation for Donald Trump's defeat: “electoral fraud”. “If this happens, we will work even harder for 2028 and we will fight in every state to avoid any manipulation. We will take legal action if necessary,” he assures.
Prince Hernandez, a former New Yorker who moved to Las Vegas last year, embodies this diversification of the pro-Trump movement. A former Democrat, he gradually lost faith in his original party, and the impact of immigration on his childhood neighborhood pushed him to reconsider his vote.
“Schools are overcrowded, inflation is rising, and there are not enough resources. “It’s not a question of race, but of economic reality,” he explains. Prince Hernandez says he is reassured to have discovered that the Trump community was not the bastion of racism he feared. “I was told that Trump supporters were racist, but I only felt openness and solidarity,” he says.
Concern for the country in the event of Kamala Harris' victory
For many supporters, a defeat for Donald Trump would not only be a disappointment, but a fatal blow to the future of the country. Lance Baker, proudly wearing a pro-Trump cap and t-shirt, is categorical. “If Donald Trump doesn't win, we're screwed. There will be no more elections. The country is finished, they have gone so far to the left that we are almost in the era of communism. » At the idea of a Kamala Harris presidency, Lance Baker is even considering moving to another state and goes so far as to predict that certain states like Texas or Arkansas could secede.
Richard Newton, an African-American in his fifties attached to conservative ideas, shares this fear for the future of the country. For him, a defeat for Donald Trump would mean the collapse of the economy, the loss of individual freedoms, and an uncontrolled opening of borders. “Of course, we will continue to fight, but in a legal and peaceful manner,” he specifies, excluding any form of violence.
Unfailing commitment, even in the event of defeat
While some are considering the possibility of resorting to peaceful demonstrations in the event of defeat, everyone agrees on one point: their support for Donald Trump and the Republicans will not weaken. Determined to fight for what they consider to be “authentic America,” these supporters express a loyalty and fervor that goes well beyond a simple election.
For these fervent supporters of the former president, the future of their country is at stake, and even in the event of defeat, they are ready to mobilize to defend the values and integrity of the electoral process. But everyone thinks first of all about legal recourse. A new assault on the Capitol as in 2021 is not conceivable for them. They acknowledge, however, that there are still a few uncontrollable supporters. But this is not the majority, a message they intend to send.
