Former President Donald Trump held a large rally at Coastal Carolina University on Saturday, drawing both supporters and protesters to the Conway campus.
Thousands of Trump supporters packed the HTC Center arena on campus, with overflow crowds directed to additional viewing areas outside. Many attendees wore pro-Trump apparel and chanted slogans like “Let’s Go Brandon,” a coded insult towards President Joe Biden.
The event had a festival-like atmosphere as crowds waited for Trump to take the stage. Upbeat country music played while vendors sold Trump merchandise. “There’s just such energy here,” said Wendy McLaughlin, a Georgetown resident attending her fifth Trump rally. “These events are so patriotic.”
Other loyal followers like Sharon Anderson have attended dozens of Trump rallies across the country. “I want him to be able to look out in the crowd and see us and know we support him,” Anderson said.
In his speech, Trump repeated false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and railed against immigrants and Democrats. He endorsed local Republican candidates and predicted a “red wave” in November’s midterms.
While popular with his base, Trump remains a divisive figure. Across the street, around two dozen Coastal Carolina students protested the event, upset they only received three days’ notice.
“There need to be revisions to school policy,” said senior Kaci Dozier, who felt freshmen were particularly vulnerable. “I won’t stand for them terrorizing our freshman class.”
The short notice also left some students who live on campus feeling unsafe. “We pay to go to school here,” said protester Jayden Smith. “We live here. They don’t.”
Coastal Carolina has been criticized for not informing students earlier about the high-profile Trump visit. The university rented its facilities to the Trump campaign but did not sponsor the event.
Trump’s rally comes as he mounts another White House run after losing to Biden in 2020. He remains the most influential voice in the Republican Party though facing ongoing investigations over classified documents found at Mar-a-Lago.
Saturday’s event allowed Trump to energize his loyal supporters in South Carolina, a crucial early primary state. The large turnout demonstrates his enduring popularity with the GOP base despite no longer being in office.
But the student protests also highlighted the polarization Trump provokes. His lightning rod status was on full display at Coastal Carolina University on Saturday, drawing both faithful followers and dismayed detractors.