In a rare moment of wistful self-reflection, Donald Trump seemed to ponder the end of an era as he took the stage at a packed rally in Pittsburgh on the eve of the 2024 election. Gazing out at the sea of red MAGA hats, the former president mused, “It’s sad because we’ve been doing this for nine years. We’ve had hundreds, hundreds of rallies — actually numbers that are not even conceivable.”
Trump, 78, insisted this would be his last rally in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania, with one more to follow in Michigan. “Remember, the rallies are the most exciting thing,” he told the roaring crowd. “There’ll never be rallies like this. You’re going to have some leading candidate come in in four years and, honestly, if they’re successful they’ll have 300 or 400 people in a ballroom some place. This is never going to happen again.”
Nostalgia Gives Way to Trademark Rants
But the nostalgic moment quickly gave way to a characteristic brain swerve, as Trump launched into a rant about “Barack Hussein Obama” being a “very divisive guy” and complaining about Michelle Obama “hitting me” in a recent speech. He then decried the Russia “hoax” and how his son Don Jr had been unfairly caught up in it, before letting rip at Democratic congressman Adam Schiff as “watermelon head”, “evil” and “human scum.”
It was vintage Trump, a final episode recap of his long-running series of raucous, cult-like rallies that have combined worship of the demagogue with a fired up sense of grievance and “us versus them” mentality. Love him or loathe him, it’s undeniable that Trump’s rallies are a unique phenomenon in American politics – gaudy spectacles that draw thousands of die-hard fans who revel in his every insult and controversial remark.
The MAGA Faithful Out in Force
In Pittsburgh, the MAGA faithful were out in force as always, decked out in their red and white team colors on hats and shirts from merchandise vendors who have made a killing following Trump’s rallies across the nation. For them, Trump can do no wrong — a gaffe or insult that would be disqualifying for any other politician is just a punchline to be cheered.
“I love this country. You’ve got millions and millions of illegal aliens crossing the border. They don’t speak English. They don’t say a pledge allegiance to the flag. They freeload off of us. I believe that Trump, his first term in office, he renegotiated Nafta, he’s for the American people and that’s why I vote him. I think he’s one of the greatest presidents ever to run for office and hold office.”
– Michael Barringer, 55, a fifth-generation coal miner
According to sources close to the campaign, Trump’s team had hoped to run a more disciplined operation focused on economic issues and border security in 2024. But in the end, they were like riders on a bucking bronco, just hanging on for dear life as Trump said and did as he pleased. Pleas to stop questioning the 2020 election results and insulting other Republicans fell on deaf ears.
A Defiant Final Act
As he closed out his 2024 campaign, Trump seemed determined to go out on his own defiant terms. He trotted out his greatest rally hits and verbal ticks, much to the delight of his adoring crowds. He boasted about his accomplishments, attacked his favorite targets, spread baseless conspiracy theories, and joked about not leaving the White House after his first term, all to riotous applause and cheers of “Fight, fight, fight!”
In the final moments of his Pittsburgh rally, Trump waxed nostalgic once again as his adult children joined him on stage. “You’ve got millions and millions of people, you’ve got, these rallies, there’s never been anything like it,” he said, before taking aim at Kamala Harris’ small rally turnout. It was a characteristic ending — a flash of humanity and sentimentality giving way to schoolyard taunts.
Whether this is truly the end of Trump’s improbable political saga or just a prelude to another stunning comeback remains to be seen. He certainly faces an uphill battle, trailing Harris in most polls and dogged by multiple legal investigations. But if the Pittsburgh rally proved anything, it’s that the MAGA faithful aren’t going anywhere, and Trump’s rallies will be remembered as one of the most bizarre and influential phenomena in the history of American politics.
