Out of town pool report #8: Rally wrapped, quotes

The ballroom was packed with what appears to be at least an estimated 700-800 people, at most 1,000. Your pooler asked the wrangler if we could get a specific number. Will send that along if I get it.

Trump took the stage at 7:09pm ET to Lee Greenwood’s “Proud to be an American”

The president wrapped at 8:47pm

Notable figures at the rally:

Chief of staff Susie Wiles

Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

Energy Secretary Chris Wright

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent

Pennsylvania Sen. Dave McCormick

Pennsylvania Rep. Rob Bresnahan

Pennsylvania Rep. Ryan MacKenzie

Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser

(All three of these guys, they’re warriors,” Trump said referring to Mackenzie, Bresnahan and Meuser)

Touted his administration’s tariffs in Pennsylvania:

“The tariffs have filled it up….other steel companies are company to Pennsylvania.”

“My favorite word is tariff, but then I get a lot of heat from the fake news…look at them back there” the room erupted in boos

Trump gave a shout out to Scott Bessent, which was met with cheers.

“We’re drilling more oil than we ever have before. Prices are way down…”

Blames Democrats for affordability: “they caused the high prices and were bringing them down”

Touted the stock market gains and 401K’s

Tore into former President Biden, called him “a sleep son of a bitch.”

The president also criticized Rep. Ilhan Omar: “She does nothing but bitch…”

Trump repeatedly mentioned and criticized Omar and the Somali community in the US

The crowd chanted “take her out” in response to his comments on Omar.

Mentioned the two National Guardmembers who were shot before Thanksgiving…

On Sarah: She was shot in the brain….shot in the head…they kept her alive long enough for her parents to come in from West Virginia to say bye to her.”

On Andrew: Today I got a call that he got up from bed…now he didn’t speak, he’s not ready for that yet.”

On suspect and death penalty: “they’re fighting to save his life to give him the death penalty…looks like they will save him…he wasn’t as badly hurt as Sarah or Andrew.

Touted work with China on trade: “they’re buying trillions of dollars of our products.”

Mentioned tax breaks in the One Big Beautiful Bill: “That’s one of the reasons your 401k’s are through the roof, that’s one of the reasons why stocks are higher”

Repeated his claim that Thanksgiving Turkey prices were down, went to mention “Christmas hams” before a member of the crowd yelled “don’t forget the eggs!”

“I can’t say affordability hoax because I agree the prices are too high, so I can’t call it a hoax because they’ll misconstrue that.”

The president included a chart on a large screen behind him on stage titled “Biden Food Price Increases and Trump Price Deceases,” showed prices of various goods including pork, rice

On Europe:

“Immigration and energy are going to destroy Europe.”

Trump called out three supporters who have benefitted from no taxes on tips and overtime.

The president called one woman named Donna up on stage who said she has benefitted from no taxes on tips, said it would make it easier for her to pay her daughter’s tuition.

Trump also gave a shout out to Marine veteran Sean Downing who he said has benefited from no taxes on overtime, Trump said he was going to use the money to buy a house

He then called on Meghan Hemhouser (sp?) who came on stage and talked about how no taxes on tips and overtime have “saved” her family

“Every single Democrat voted against these benefits…”

Trump also mentioned North Carolina’s Senate race, touting Michael Whatley

Invoked the deadly knife attack on Charlotte’s light rail earlier this year, asking “what is going on in North Carolina?”

Trump praised Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as “very strong,” recalled being interviewed by Hegseth and how Hegseth always talked about the military

Trump touted the peace deals made during his second administration including Cambodia and Thailand: “I hate to say this but Cambodia and Thailand, it started up today. I’m going to have to make a phone call tomorrow.”

Sent from my iPhone