“A great celebration of love”, murderous barbs and absolute worship for the leader: the rallies which punctuate Donald Trump’s campaigns follow very precise codes, to the great pleasure of his supporters.
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Example of this carefully choreographed ritual with a gathering in Georgia.
Act I: arrival
To have a chance to see the former president, his most fervent supporters gather five, six, even seven hours in advance.
They are greeted by sellers offering them t-shirts and caps bearing the image of the Republican candidate and by other of his supporters with whom they chant in line “Fight! Fight! Fight!» (“Fight!”) – the phrase launched by Donald Trump when he was shot in July.
The doors open. And the crowd floods into the venue hosting the rally, this time in a college basketball arena in Atlanta.
In the aisles, Tikva Mann is excited about attending her very first rally with the former president. “Even if he’s at the other end of the room, it doesn’t matter to me, as long as I can see him,” assures the 83-year-old Israeli-American, a “Trump” sticker on her cheek. .
Act II: the first part
The programming begins, more than four hours before the candidate’s arrival, with a prayer. The assembly removes its red caps, recites the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States and hums the American anthem.
A ballet of Trump lieutenants then follows one another on the platform. Everyone showers the Republican with praise, assuring that he will “save America” from an invasion of migrants, galloping inflation and a right-thinking devastating.
As usual, Donald Trump is late. Whatever. His supporters are bombarded with hits from Pitbull, Elvis Presley and Miley Cyrus to pass the time.
A young man in a sky blue polo shirt makes his way through the crowd, inviting them to “sign the petition of Elon Musk”, the richest man on the planet who is campaigning for the Republican and who is offering a million dollars per day to a signatory drawn at random.
Act III: The Trump Show
A roar pierces the arena when Donald Trump finally enters the stage, to the first notes of the ultra-patriotic anthem “God Bless the USA“. The song, which punctuates each candidate’s rally, is sung by the participants, while the septuagenarian waves his hands while smiling.
The Republican sits at the podium, surrounded by Secret Service agents.
“Let me start with a very simple question: Is your life better than it was four years ago?” says the tribune with the red tie. “No!!!” replies the assembly in chorus.
Trump’s rally on Monday is supposed to be about inflation. But as at all his gatherings, it is almost exclusively about immigration.
Donald Trump paints an extremely dark picture of America, prey according to him to migrants who “kidnap” children and “rape” young American girls.
The septuagenarian feeds on the energy of the crowd who laugh out loud when he imitates his rival Kamala Harris – whom he blithely describes as a “fascist” and a “failure”. The audience shouted “we love you” and demanded that he “complete the wall on the border” between the United States and Mexico.
“You absolutely must go and vote,” urges the candidate after more than an hour of a sometimes disjointed speech. In his favorite enumeration, he promises in exchange to restore to America its “power”, its “pride”, its “greatness”.
New roar from the Trumpists.
The speakers of the arena begin to sputter out the first notes of YMCA of the Village People. As the highlight of the show, Donald Trump raises his fists and performs small dance steps. His supporters respond by forming the letters of the famous song one by one, before dispersing outside the arena.
Act IV: what next?
Eric Villacis has already done 15 gatherings like this.
“It’s a big celebration of love,” says the forty-year-old, brushing aside accusations of racism emanating from Democrats.
Trump rallies bring together “normal people” who “get along well” and “love America,” he says.
Donald Trump himself evokes this feeling of belonging to a community, imbued with a touch of nostalgia one week before the election which will seal his destiny.
“We held the greatest campaign rallies in the world.”
