Hundreds of supporters of President Donald Trump gathered in Phoenix on Nov. 21 to attend a “Stop the Steal” rally, in support of the Trump campaign’s efforts to ensure the integrity and transparency of the Nov. 3 election results.
Businessman Funds ‘Unofficial Campaign’ Bus
An “unofficial campaign bus” for Trump’s reelection at the rally was the brainchild of Mississippi businessman and Trump supporter Buddy Hall, who spent over $1 million to outfit the vehicle.Hall describes himself as someone who had never voted in his life because he thought politics was a game, “just like the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers. We’re all Americans, we all love each other.”
But that changed when he saw “the burning of buildings, the killings, defunding the police.”
“Another reason why I never voted is, I figured my vote won’t make a difference.” Hall thought that the politicians “probably aren’t going to do what they promise to do.“ ”So why waste my time?” he said.
That opinion was changed by Trump.
In order to “make a difference and help promote our great president,” Hall purchased a tour bus, which he calls the “All Aboard the Trump Train.” Among the lavish decorations are slogans such as “Promises Made Promises Kept,” “Keep America Great,” “Christians for Trump,” “Veterans for Trump,” “Law Enforcement for Trump,” and more.
Hall and the crew wanted to tour the country, but they weren’t able to go to as many places as planned because of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Some areas are also off-limits due to “BLM and Antifa and all the crazy stuff,“ Hall said. ”If they mess it up, it’s hard to go get another bus like this. So we keep it in safe places.”
As for the election outcome, Hall remains optimistic.
History Buff Calls Trump ‘a Fighter’
Tara Immen, 30, who is one of the event organizers, says that after studying American history on her own, “I truly believe our constitution, the Declaration of Independence, along with the Bible are the most sacred documents.”She noted that 39 people signed the original draft of the Constitution, and 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence. “It just shows that it only takes a small number of good people with sound minds to truly change and transform a nation,” she said.
She says the biggest reason for her support of Trump is that “we finally have a president with an absolute strong backbone.”
“He is not afraid to say what he wants [to say]. He calls the fake news out. He stands against human trafficking. He signed the 1776 Act to bring back patriotic teaching in our schools. He stands for constitutional rights. He doesn’t even take his salary!“ she said. ”I support Trump for a million other reasons because he’s finally someone who’s not afraid of the mob.”
Immen, who also remains undiscouraged, believes that Trump won the election, which was then stolen. She said that “Trump is a fighter.” Her favorite quote from Trump is “Never give up!”
“I think it was good it played out [like this]. America could see the ’swamp' and the fraud in it,” she told Epoch Times affiliate NTD.
Overwhelming Support
“I don’t want our citizens, who voted for our president, who have been robbed, to feel that they are alone, “ said Korena Ortiz, a senior project manager at a local company. She told NTD she supports the ”Stop the Steal“ rally because ”President Trump is the people’s president. He is a hero for fighting fraud.”As a precinct committee person who also has a full-time job and kids, Ortiz said that she has spent one or two days a week since this summer knocking on doors in her precinct. She believes that support for Trump is overwhelming.
“There are other people who spent a lot more time than I did. We knocked on thousands of doors. Maybe we find one Biden supporter out of 20 households,” she said. “ I am not exaggerating.”
Amid what she sees as election fraud, Ortiz offered some encouraging words.
“Have faith in good, have faith in our Founding Fathers and our Constitution. Trump fights for America,” she said.
Trump ‘Speaks From the Heart’
“Trump is a man who speaks from the heart,“ Kip Gates, a fifth-generation cowboy, told NTD. ”He’s a man that really truly knows what this country was built on, how God is put into this country, and how these people should live in order to be free Americans.“I am a Christian, and my ancestors were cowboys. They believed in the land and living off the land. I’m here because I want to stick up and show people that God is No. 1, that the country needs God and people like President Trump.”
Gates had a personal message for Trump. “God bless you. You’re a man. You’re a great figure for this country, and I’m behind you 150 percent,” he said. “I'll saddle my horse and ride into the sunset just for you.”
