Dan Patrick, Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene among speakers at Trump rally in Waco
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Before former President Donald Trump was scheduled to take the stage at a campaign rally in Waco, several guest speakers shared a message with those in the crowd.
The list of speakers was not made public prior to the event, which is the first campaign rally for Trump's 2024 campaign for president. The city of Waco estimated earlier this week that about 15,000 people would attend the rally at Waco Regional Airport.
Here's a running list of who has spoken at the event in no particular order:
Ted Nugent plays Star-Spangled banner on guitar
At the start of former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally in Waco, rocker Ted Nugent plays the Star-Spangled Banner on his guitar. @CBSNewsTexas pic.twitter.com/1jtsqscIgi
— Jack Fink (@cbs11jack) March 25, 2023
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on why Trump rally is in Waco
Patrick disputed reports that the Trump campaign chose Waco for the rally due to the anniversary of the Branch Davidian cult compound's siege by federal agencies in Waco in 1993.
Experts on political violence highlighted the anniversary as being hugely symbolic on the far-right.
"There's not really another place in the U.S. that you could pick that would tap into these deep veins of anti-government hatred — Christian nationalist skepticism of the government — and I find it hard to believe that Trump doesn't know that Waco represents all of these things," said Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism in an interview with USA Today.
Patrick, however, suggested Trump asked him to pick a place for his rally, and he suggested Waco.
"Thats the reason he's here," Patrick said.
Current and former members of Congress
Republican U.S. representatives such as Matt Gaetz of Florida and Majorie Taylor Greene of Georgia attended the rally.
With my great friend @MattGaetz in Texas at President Trump’s rally to Save America! pic.twitter.com/5YrU9bF7PL
— Marjorie Taylor Greene 🇺🇸 (@mtgreenee) March 25, 2023
Reps. Roger Williams, of Texas District 25, and Wesley Hunt of Texas District 38, were also in attendance. Both have endorsed Trump for president.
Former Rep. Mayra Flores, who lost her seat in Texas' 34th district in the November 2022 election, also spoke at the rally.
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell
MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is the first speaker.
He says if Donald Trump gets indicted he’ll win 2024 “automatically”
Says Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis should endorse Trump pic.twitter.com/YsTdDOXMtN— Aarón Torres (@AaronTorres_) March 25, 2023
Texas pastors Ramiro A. Peña, Robert Jeffress
.@robertjeffress helps warms up crowd at #Trump rally in #Waco. Declares "America was founded as a Christian nation" & "God bless Donald J. Trump." Then leads rally in prayer. #ChristianNationalism pic.twitter.com/cVZX54pUTb
— Brian Kaylor (@BrianKaylor) March 25, 2023
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller
Sid Miller spoke in favor of several Trump policies.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Trump rally in Waco: Dan Patrick, Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene
