GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – During a rally in Green Bay Friday evening, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump endorsed House Speaker Paul Ryan.
“I support and endorse our Speaker of the House Paul Ryan,” Trump enthusiastically said. “He’s a good man and he’s a good guy. We may disagree on a couple things but mostly we agree and we’re going to get it done and we’re going to do a lot of wonderful things.”
The Janesville Republican is facing a primary challenge from businessman Paul Nehlen in the state’s 1st Congressional District. That election will take place on Tuesday.
Trump then also praised and endorsed Senators John McCain (R-Arizona) and Kelly Ayotte (R-New Hampshire).
Supporters, like Barbara Kramer of Iron Mountain, Michigan, say this was a great move.
“Because we need party unity, we need the party to get behind Trump and we need Trump to get behind the party,” Kramer, a District 3 Commissioner in Dickinson County, said. “It won’t work if it doesn’t happen that way.”
Several thousand people attended the rally at the KI Convention Center in downtown Green Bay, right near where plenty of other folks were looking to attend other attractions going on simultaneously. They included the Tall Ships Festival and Fire over the Fox.
PROTESTERS CAMP ACROSS STREET
While one side of Main Street was filled with Republican supporters wearing the famous “Make America Great Again” hats, trying to pass through Secret Service security to get inside, the other side of the street had a collection of protesters.
“This is Donald Dunce,” explains Pam Sommer, who put together a two-sided poster along with a mini-Trump looking doll. “I think he’s dangerous, he’s a bigot, he’s a bully, he doesn’t think before he talks.”
A man in face paint, who only would identify himself as John, came out to try and shock people.
“I’m not a fan of someone who’s borderline fascist,” says John, and when asked about who he’s supporting this November. “Vote Cthulhu Fagan Ryalla, it’s speak of the old ones. The ancient and primordial gods that have lived here from strange eons before us.”
That’s in reference to part of a list of fictional deities from writer H.P. Lovecraft.
Other signs displayed ranged from preaching love and peace, to comparing Donald Trump with Adolf Hitler.
A DIFFERENT KIND OF HOPE AND CHANGE
Trump supporters say the status quo of Washington D.C. must go, and the business mogul is the man to make it happen.
“He’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind and he’s the people’s choice,” says one supporter. “This is a violent world and you’ve got to have the ability to do what needs to be done and not like what we have in this administration.”
Adam Polley believes that despite what you might see in the media, the ticket of Trump and vice presidential candidate Mike Pence have a great shot at winning in November.
“I feel like there’s enough emotion and just raw excitement from the two of them that they can just bring people together, get people excited and bring a change,” Polley said.
Other supporters were also happy that Trump turned his focus toward Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, whom he continued to call a, “liar,” and a, “crook.”
PLATFORM ISSUES
Trump peppered his speech about his plans to battle radical Islamic terrorism, improve the economy and secure the borders.
“Our southern border is going to be very powerful, we’re going to stop the drugs pouring into Wisconsin and everyplace else,” Trump said. “Trade is a disaster with China, with Japan, with Mexico, with Vietnam, with so many countries. With every country.”
Reports surfaced on Friday that Trump plans to release his economic policy framework in a speech in Detroit on Monday. The lone tidbit he offered during his Green Bay address was that he would cut taxes. Trump also mentioned that he would repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act upon being elected.
