Midnight at the St. Cloud Trump rally: dozens camped out, creating community

ST. CLOUD — As the clock struck midnight on July 27, the St. Cloud Times found dozens of former President Donald Trump’s supporters basking in the street lights illuminating the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center, eagerly awaiting the upcoming rally.

Since Trump’s St. Cloud rally offered seating on a first-come, first-served basis, many supporters were anxious to get their foot in the door. Armed with American flag blankets, folding lawn chairs, portable chargers and, in one lucky case, Raising Cane's chicken fingers, some rally attendees camped out for more than 24 hours before the stadium's doors opened.

While campers say their folding lawn chairs may not have been the most comfortable, and any efforts to get even a sliver of shut eye proved unsuccessful, they say it’s an experience they’ll never forget.

“Everybody was like a little community; we all took care of each other,” camper Melanie Johnson said the following afternoon, reminiscing on the experience. “We were sharing water and made sure our spots were saved.”

Trump’s fans built comradery amongst each other as the night drifted away, reminiscing on the old times and discussing the issues surrounding the 78-year-old Republican candidate.

Among these supporters were veterans Bruce Anderson of Little Falls, Minnesota, and Thomas Popescu of St. Louis Park, Minnesota. The two didn’t know each other before setting up their lawn chairs but small talk about their service quickly brought up conversations on policy and what draws them to Trump.

“Trump reminds me of my dad, he says it how it is,” Anderson said. “The things that come out of his mouth (I think is) the truth. He’s got something about him that I like.”

As the conversation progressed, the topics only grew in intensity. The two veterans applaud Trump's plan to crack down on immigration, particularly regarding the migrant crisis, and believe taxpayer dollars going to help migrants should be allocated to ensuring that those who served the country have homes.

This hit home for Popescu whose time in the U.S. Army came to a close due to mental health issues. When Popescu tried to transition into civilian life, things didn’t go as planned, and homelessness became a reality.

“When I came back from Iraq, I started having mental health issues like problems sleeping, anxiety mostly,” Popescu said.

More: Meet Uncle Sam Florida man travels the country from Trump rally to Trump rally, including St. Cloud

Eventually, the veteran looked to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for assistance, and he said it got him back on his feet.

“I just walked into a VA one day, and this lady helped me apply for my benefits and stuff like that,” Popescu said. “I started out at 50%, but after a few hospitalizations and (other programs), I ended up at 100%, which is decent enough now for myself.”

Inflation was another worry bringing the two together. Anderson, 68, took a trip down memory lane with Popescu, 42, telling him about when he was younger, and how easy it was to enjoy fun activities because everything cost less.

“My neighbor, who was a buddy of mine, his dad bought a snowmobile so we would go snowmobiling,” Anderson said. “We’d get a quarter among the four of us, but we would have enough money for gas all night.”

While campers said their night was fun, it had its downfalls. There were no showers or running water for them to brush their teeth or bathe, but some alternatives were found.

“I had a washcloth and stove in our vehicle, as we were able to come back to our vehicle,” Johnson said. “I had deodorant and perfume. I brought it all with.”

“We did not shower, we could use a shower though,” camper Scott Brodeen, who is running for St. Cloud City Council, said. “We have extra deodorant, brought toothbrushes and we had water bottles.”

More: Harris campaign kickoff Minnesota Democrats, including Gov. Walz, launch Harris for President campaign in St. Paul

Those who stayed overnight got special wristbands, granting them congregated access to front seats, which the St. Cloud Times reports had a unique scent compared to other sections, likely due to the roughly 82-degree temperature and no space to shower.

Trump’s supporters agreed that it’s important to vote in this upcoming election, and if not voting for yourself, vote for the candidate you believe will create a better tomorrow for the next generation.

“I do pretty well for myself, and I can get by, so at the end of the day I’m not too worried about me,” Anderson said. “I’m worried about the young people and how they can’t afford rent or other things that were easier to afford back in the day.”

Corey Schmidt covers local government for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: Minnesotans created community, lining up hours before Trump's rally