Faithful flocking from far and wide

WACO: “Every president has had their mistress, you know?” said 72-year-old Louis, as he waited to enter Donald Trump’s first big rally of his 2024 campaign, in Texas. “So why not him?” Louis and his grandson were among the thousands of supporters, along with the usual vendors hawking “Make America Great Again” caps and “Trump 2024” flags, who have gathered at an airport in the city of Waco — the site of a siege 30 years ago that ended with more than 80 dead.

One attendee at the rally, 54-year-old Michele, says she does not believe Trump will be arrested, because “that is just not even a smart move... and they know that.”

The potential charges are just “political theater” and a distraction from “what’s going on with the banking system which is crumbling before everybody’s eyes,” she said, referring to the recent collapse of multiple US lenders.

“He’s going to get arrested for what? A misdemeanor? It is totally okay to pay someone to be quiet,” she added.

Zach, an 18-year-old Waco resident, also believes the media attention on the potential charges are a distraction from the high inflation under President Joe Biden, whose support of Ukraine, in his view, is inflaming geopolitical tensions.

The payment Trump made to the porn star, Stormy Daniels, was “not through his campaign money... he did with his personal money,” Zach said.

Julie, who drove over two hours from the Texas city of Tyler, said that the “Stormy Daniels situation is not a big one.” “She just came out of nowhere, (and) decided to see how much money she could get from him,” added Julie, sporting a cowboy hat with “Trump” on it.

Outside the airport, the parking lot was already full of cars which arrived well before the doors opened.