Former President Donald J. Trump held a rally in Duluth, Ga. on Wednesday Oct. 23 to urge Georgia voters to go to the polls.
Trump gave an hour and a half speech about immigration, taxes, public health, crime and inflation to more than 10,000 enthusiastic supporters at the Gas South Arena. He recounted times of success during his presidency such as his progress building the border wall and opening pipelines for energy independence. He promised to return the country to a place with low crime rates and a strong economy.
Trump highlighted the surge of illegal immigration and victims of crime by immigrants such as the killing of Laken Riley, a University of Georgia student. He demonstrated how illegal immigration decreased during his presidency by showing an immigration chart. This was the same chart he looked at right before a bullet whizzed past his head in Butler, Pa. on July 13, 2024.
He said he wanted to bring back the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, which involves the immediate deportation and imprisonment of “illegal aliens.” This has been implemented during the War of 1812, World War I and World War II. The law was implemented for Japanese internment between 1942 and 1945. It states that a president may deport resident aliens and others during a time of war.
He mentioned his involvement in getting Starlink, an internet service owned by Elon Musk, to Hurricane Helene victims and local governments. Trump has recounted this story since September.
On Sept. 30, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) put out a statement before Trump began telling this story publicly. On Oct. 1, Musk stated on X that Trump alerted him to additional North Carolina residents who needed internet access.
Speakers for Trump
Other speakers included Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Dr. Ben Carson, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and former FOX News commentator Tucker Carlson.
Kennedy Jr. urged Americans to fight for a healthier United States that involves less chemicals in food and less power for “Big Pharma.”
The Supporters
Many Trump supporters such as Flory Everhart, an immigrant from the Philippines, expressed deep concerns for border security. Everhart said she is concerned about the U.S.–Mexican border and inflation, but she also attended the event because she loves Trump.
“I’ve voted Republican since I moved here,” Everhart said.
Other supporters attended because they said they were frustrated with the current administration and the rising prices of gas and groceries. They said that Vice President Kamala Harris would be a continuation of the Biden administration.
“Why would you want to put the same person back there again?” said Steven Winslett, a long-time Republican.
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