Trump rally in Tupelo MS: Here's what the president said about Reeves, Hood
TUPELO — After Congressional Democrats voted to formalize impeachment proceedings Thursday, Donald Trump headed for friendly territory Friday — and found it in Northeast Mississippi.
Thousands of people lined up for hours to fill the BancorpSouth Arena in Tupelo and cheer on the president in what felt more like a rock concert than a political speech.
While Democratic leaders and many Americans see a president who is willing to court foreign policy favors to undermine his political opponents, Trump described a different presidency, one that has given America its greatest ever economy and military.
The crowd sided with Trump's view of reality.
“America is winning again, and America is all over the world respected again,” Trump said to cheers. “While we’re creating jobs and killing terrorists, the Democratic party has gone completely insane.”
Trump came to Mississippi ostensibly to boost the campaign of Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, the Republican nominee for governor. Reeves is in a neck-and-neck race with Democrat Jim Hood, the state's attorney general.
Trump mentioned Reeves and Tuesday's election once in the beginning, then veered completely into national politics for much of the speech, before returning to Reeves a few times later. He rarely touched on issues specific to Mississippi.
The audience didn't seem to mind.
Trump praised the economy, noting “the stock market today hit an another all-time high.”
He also touted the number of federal judges he's appointed to the bench for lifetime appointments, which has allowed Republicans to reshape the judiciary for decades to come.
“We’ve confirmed more than 158 brand new, beautiful federal judges," Trump said. “... (President Barack Obama) left us 142 openings. Can you believe that? You’re supposed to leave none when you leave office.”
Much of the speech mirrored previous rallies. He rehashed the 2016 election, bashed the media and slammed his political rivals. He criticized the "Russia hoax," the "Mueller witch hunt," and the ongoing impeachment inquiry building steam in Washington.
“And now corrupt politicians Nancy Pelosi and shifty' Adam Schiff, and the media are continuing with the deranged impeachment witch hunt," Trump said as the crowd booed. “To me (impeachment is) a dirty word. Not a good word.”
Congressional Democrats are currently investigating whether Trump engaged in a quid pro quo with the president of Ukraine. As he's done before on Twitter, Trump told the crowd his phone call with the Ukrainian president — in which Trump asked him to investigate his political rival Vice President Joe Biden — was "perfect."
Reeves welcomes Trump
About 40 minutes into his speech, Trump returned to Reeves and the upcoming election for governor.
“He’s a great guy. All I know is he’s loved and respected by the current governor, because Phil (Bryant) is some kind of work ... (Bryant) built the most beautiful African-American museum,” Trump said, referring to the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum.
Trump called Reeves “a champion for Mississippi values" who repeatedly cut taxes. Meanwhile, he called Reeves' opponent Hood a "liberal Democrat," who supported “Crooked" Hillary Clinton and Barack "Hussein" Obama.
“I can’t believe this is a competitive race,” Trump said, calling it “embarrassing.”
Trump then turned the microphone over to Reeves, who spoke for about three minutes. As he spoke, some attendees began to file out.
“Thank you Mr. President. Mississippi welcomes you because Mississippi is Donald J. Trump country,” Reeves said to cheers. “We gave you almost 60 percent of the vote in 2016 and next year we’re gonna do even better.”
Reeves's speech was light on Mississippi issues and heavy on national politics. He framed himself as an ally for Trump's agenda in Mississippi.
“Are we gonna stand with President Donald Trump? Are you gonna stand with me on Tuesday?" Reeves asked the crowd. “...Let’s stand up to keep America great ... I need your prayers, I need your support and most importantly, on Tuesday, I need your vote.”
Trump returned to the podium and said, "He'll never let you down."
Hood talks with media ahead of rally
In a parking lot a few blocks away from the arena, Hood spoke with reporters a few hours before the rally began. He hails from Northeast Mississippi, and the area has traditionally backed him in elections, but reporters wanted to know whether a visit from Trump would push Reeves past Hood in the region. Hood said he's not worried.
"I think the people up here, at home, will stick with me," Hood said in downtown Tupelo, after spending the night on his farm in nearby Houston. "They've seen my record ... they know I'm a moderate, that I'm going to get things done."
Throughout the campaign, Hood has repeatedly borrowed a line from Trump, saying he's going to "drain the swamp" in Mississippi, accusing Reeves of pay-to-play politics and cronyism.
Mayor Jason Shelton of Tupelo also appeared with Hood. Shelton, a Democrat who supports Hood, said the White House wouldn't approve him to welcome Trump into his city. Local dignitaries often greet the president on trips.
Shelton took Trump's visit to Tupelo as a good sign for Hood.
"I think General Hood has an excellent chance to win Tuesday, or the president would not be here in Tupelo right now," Shelton said. "The president is here right now to hold Lt. Gov. Reeves' hand."
Bryant, U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, and U.S. Rep. Trent Kelly also spoke at the rally.
Crowd enjoys speech
The arena, which has a seating capacity of about 10,000, was full an hour before Trump was scheduled to speech. They wore red hats, danced the "YMCA," shook "Trump 2020" signs, chanted "Build the wall," and did the wave.
Much of the 80-minute speech was like a call-and-answer routine.
Trump name-dropped Elvis Presley, who was born in Tupelo, and the crowd went wild.
Trump mentioned his 2016 Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton and her email scandal, and the crowd chanted, "Lock her up."
Trump brought up "Barack Hussein Obama," and the crowd booed.
Trump called out the "Fake News Media," and the crowd pointed at journalists on the arena floor and jeered.
According to Trump, the Republican Party is the party of “American worker, the American family, the American dream… Nobody has done more for the African American community than the Republican Party,” a line which drew a big cheer from the largely white audience.
He also riffed on breaking news, including former U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas dropping out of the Democratic primary for president.
“Beto, Beto. Did you hear?” He asked the crowd. “Ah, poor bastard. Poor pathetic guy. He’s pathetic.”
One of the loudest cheers of the night came when Trump mentioned the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS.
“I kept saying, 'Where is al-Baghdadi, that’s the one I want,'" Trump said. “... His reign of terror is over.”
Trump also repeated a claim that al-Bachdadi "spent his last miserable moments” cowering and trembling in fear, though the New York Times reported Friday that top U.S. military leaders have "no idea what the president was talking about."
Trump ended his speech on a familiar, hopeful note.
“Ladies and gentlemen of Mississippi, the best is yet to come," he said. "Because together we will make America wealthy again, we will make America strong again, we will make America proud again, we will make America safe again, and we will make America great again.”
Contact Giacomo "Jack" Bologna at 601-961-7282 or gbologna@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @gbolognaCL. Contact Luke Ramseth at 601-961-7050 or lramseth@gannett.com. Follow @lramseth on Twitter.
