When President Trump steps onto the stage at a campaign rally, he takes his time to soak in the crowd’s energy. He waves, pumps his fist, points out familiar faces, and joins in the applause with his supporters.
Once at the lectern, he spends the next hour speaking directly to the thousands who have traveled to see him—often waiting in sweltering heat or pouring rain—along with the hundreds of thousands watching from home or online.
During this time, there are no senior aides managing his message, nor are there shouted questions from journalists confined to a distant “press pen.” It’s just the president and his most devoted fans, who enthusiastically cheer for nearly everything he says.
Leading up to the 2016 election, these rallies reflected Trump’s campaign style—spontaneous, straightforward, loud, unpredictable, and all-consuming. Supporters often donned patriotic outfits and carried homemade signs that mirrored the candidate's political incorrectness and irreverent spirit.
After his surprising election win, Trump celebrated with a series of rallies, continuing throughout his presidency as a way to escape the confines of the White House and the pressures of national leadership. As midterm elections approach, he has leveraged these events to support congressional candidates, inviting them on stage and occasionally giving them a chance to speak to the crowd.
However, these rallies are fundamentally about Trump, his message, and his supporters.
This week in Duluth, Minn., an energetic crowd responded with cheers, boos, and chants, reaching noise levels over 100 dB—comparable to a jet taking off. Here, we explore what his speech and the audience's reactions reveal about Trump as a campaigner.
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