Former President Donald Trump's Saturday rally in Pickens, South Carolina drew more than 50,000 people--the second-largest rally Trump has had in the 2024 campaign, according to Fox News.
The rally is all the more impressive because the population of Pickens is only 3,400. The only larger rally Trump has had was in Waco, Texas in March.
Trump continues to draw large crowds to his rallies even though he has had two indictments since April. The indictments have not seemed to dampen his polling numbers a bit and may have even improved them some.
Pickens police chief Randal Beach estimated that 50-55,000 people attended the rally after authorities were unsure of the exact attendance.
The rally venue was filled and people lined the streets of the small town.
South Carolina is a draw for candidates because it holds the first primary in the South.
Trump is the front-runner for the GOP nomination by easy double digits, but some in the Republican party wonder whether he can beat a Democrat opponent because of the polarized opinions about him and his legal troubles.
Make America Great Again Inc. PAC CEO Taylor Budowich has no doubt that Trump can pull it off, however.
He said,
The Supreme Court decisions ending racist college admissions, protecting religious liberty, and stopping an illegal student loan forgiveness scheme were a reminder of how President Trump kept the promises he made to voters. Mind you, the tens of thousands of patriots that turned out in Pickens, South Carolina did it on a day with temperatures over 90 degrees. The Trump train has left the station and is not stopping until President Trump is seated behind the Resolute Desk.
"There's nowhere else I'd rather be to kick off the Fourth of July weekend than right here on Main Street, with thousands of hardworking South Carolina patriots who believe in God, family and country," Trump said Saturday.
The rally attendees seemed to feel the same way about Trump. Greg Pressley and his wife, Robin came from Tennessee more than three hours away to attend.
"Donald Trump's the best president in history," Greg said. "I love his policies. I love the man. I'm here to support him getting back to where he needs to be, to begin with."
Despite more of an emphasis by Trump on how he was done wrong by so many in Washington and some sniping at those who he feels have betrayed or turned on him, his support from Republican voters seems as strong as ever.
With two court cases that seem carefully timed to interrupt the first primaries, however, anything can still happen.
