Some Mon Valley steelworkers break with USW and endorse Trump at Unity rally
Some Mon Valley steelworkers personally endorsed former President Donald Trump during his rally Saturday at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity.
Trump called some of them to the stage and took a few minutes in the midst of the rally to chat with them and pose for a group photo.
Trump brings some steelworkers on stage, who individually endorsed Trump. National United Steelworkers union endorsed Harris in July. USW District 10 prez Bernie Hall told me no locals have endorsed Trump. These workers are endorsing him as individuals pic.twitter.com/QBMFs8lImk
— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) October 19, 2024
In July, the national United Steelworkers union endorsed Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
USW District 10 President Bernie Hall told TribLive none of the local unions endorsed Trump as a group and these workers were endorsing him as individuals.
The moment with the steelworkers came about an hour into the rally, which started with Trump fittingly sharing stories about Palmer, who grew up in Latrobe, and ended with The Village People’s “YMCA,” as is usual during rallies. He spoke for about 90 minutes in a speech that included several weaves — his own term for his meandering oratorical style.
The Palmer stories played to the locals in the crowd.
“I got to know him when he was 69 years old,” Trump, an avid golfer and golf course owner, said.
Not one to shy away from vulgarity, Trump’s stories about Palmer included locker room details that he said he just had to share.
Donald Trump takes the stage at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Westmoreland County, PA. He starts by telling a story about Arnold Palmer, the late golfer and local legend. He and Palmer were friends pic.twitter.com/nIuQlvahTy
— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) October 19, 2024
Trump’s airplane is landing at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Westmoreland County, Pa pic.twitter.com/loPHHRVeNe
— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) October 19, 2024
Trump also addressed his legal troubles, which he claimed were scams and corrupt and said they’ve only helped his campaign.
“We have them on the ropes,” he said. “The finish line is finally in sight.”
The crowd was noticeably smaller than the one that filled the Butler Farm Show complex two weeks ago, where he claimed more than 100,000 people attended although others estimated about 20,000 attended.
At the airport, Trump said there were people as far as the eye could see, although it wasn’t packed, and several times he complimented the people who attended.
Took this video of the Trump rally in Westmoreland County PA shortly before he said “people as far as the eye can see.” A lot of open space here. This is the smallest rally of his 5 in the Pittsburgh area he has held this year. pic.twitter.com/U26YRcb7Yi
— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) October 19, 2024
Like the rally in Butler County, which featured country star Lee Greenwood and billionaire Elon Musk, the one Saturday featured its own star power.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown were among those who took the stage.
Although people may say he and Trump are crazy: “We are not, they are,” Brown said during a brief speech before Trump arrived.
During Trump’s speech, he called the former players to the stage and they reiterated their support for Trump, then led a brie “Here we go, Steelers” chant.
Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is here with former Steelers running back LeVeon Bell. Brown takes a shot at Dem VP nominee Tim Walz, saying he is not a real football coach and called him Tampon Tim pic.twitter.com/dCaYRk254L
— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) October 19, 2024
Many of the people in the crowd were Mon Valley steelworkers who were encouraged to attend by their union, which announced their support for Trump.
The program started about 4:15 p.m. but some arrived at the airport at 7:30 a.m. for the latest visit for the Republican nominee for president.
Speeches have started at Westmoreland County Trump rally. Crowd filling in more. Still plenty of room left at the Arnold Palmer Regional Airport pic.twitter.com/jhd25HrSeJ
— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) October 19, 2024
Trump was also expected to make a return trip to the region for Sunday night’s Steelers game, where he will be a guest of a suite holder who was not identified by team spokesman Burt Lauten.
The team was working with the Secret Service on security plans at Acrisure Stadium, Lauten said.
Statement regarding Sunday night’s game at Acrisure Stadium: pic.twitter.com/ClXQCjmf0W
— Burt Lauten (@SteelersPRBurt) October 19, 2024
Immigration important to rallygoers
“What we’re doing with immigration, it’s terrible. It’s just unbelievable,” said Doug Sellman, 68. “We’re letting this country go downhill, more and more every day.”
Sellman, a retired steelworker, and his wife Angela Sellman, both of North Huntingdon attended the rally.
They support Trump’s economic and immigration policies.
Doug Sellman, a retired steelworker, and his wife Angela Sellman, both of North Huntingdon hope to meet @realDonaldTrump at the Unity rally.
They support Trump’s economic and immigration policies. | @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/1KSh0Gtpad
— Quincey Reese (@QuinceyReese) October 19, 2024
The Sellmans attended the rally with their children and grandchildren.
“They were just trying to get as many steelworkers up there as they could,” Doug Sellman said of his local steelworkers union.
The Sellmans voted for Trump in 2020 and plan to do the same in November.
Angela Sellman said she believes Trump’s policies will increase homeland security and revive the economy.
“We just want to keep our homes safe and a better economy,” Angela Sellman, 62, said.“The economy is terrible. We’re not self-sufficient, and we should be self-sufficient.”
Small business owner Dana Anden, of Belle Vernon, is attending the @realDonaldTrump rally at Unity’s @PalmerAirport in support of a local steelworkers union.
“I’m looking forward to him being elected and changing the trend that we’re on…” she said. | @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/WCUqokXglV
— Quincey Reese (@QuinceyReese) October 19, 2024
Donning an American flag dress, knee high red boots and a “Trump 2024” bucket hat, Dana Anden attended the rally also in support of the steelworkers union, which she said will announce its support of Trump during the rally.
A small business owner in the health care field, Anden said she feels President Joe Biden’s policies have not adequately served the small business community.
“I’ve watched the devastation that’s happened through that and I’m here to support Trump,” said Anden, of Belle Vernon.
“I’ve been here before, and I’m looking forward to him being elected and changing the trend that we’re on, which is a downward spiral as far as I can see,” she said. “I’m excited to see the change. We need a change — a real change, not another four years of this.”
It was the first rally for Bob Smith, 51, and his fiancée Donna Smith of West Newton. They arrived at 1 p.m. to beat the crowds.
“I used to be Democrat for 20 years until I wised up. I grew up in a Democratic family.”
Smith said his 86-year-old mother remains a Democrat and is supporting Vice President Kamala Harris.
“She just yells at us, tells us to take the signs out of our yard,” Smith said.
Democrats held sway in Westmoreland County for decades, but have since fallen behind Republicans who in recent years surged. They now hold a voter registration advantage of about 30,000.
Crowd gathering here at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport where former president Trump is expected to give remarks later this evening @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/ae03UeGuIj
— Shane Dunlap (@shanedunlap) October 19, 2024
This was Patricia Parri’s third Trump rally.
“I believe he is a good leader and strong American. I like how he is straight forward and he loves America. I can tell that, Parri, 77, of New Stanton, said.
Sights and sounds from the @realDonaldTrump rally at the @PalmerAirport in Unity. pic.twitter.com/ML0GuQW1TY
— Quincey Reese (@QuinceyReese) October 19, 2024
I’m here at the @PalmerAirport in Unity covering the @realDonaldTrump rally. Stay tuned to @TribLIVE for updates throughout the day. pic.twitter.com/3vRjN6vpbk
— Quincey Reese (@QuinceyReese) October 19, 2024
Comedian Jordan Clepper, a correspondent for “The Daily Show,” was at the rally filming a segment.
Jordan Klepper from “The Daily Show” working on a segment ahead of Westmoreland Trump rally. pic.twitter.com/ekDiqFfhMQ
— Rich Cholodofsky (@RichCholodofsky) October 19, 2024
Trump’s visit amid a flurry of campaign stops in the region by the presidential candidates and their running mates and political surrogates.
Here at Trump rally at Latrobe Airport in Westmoreland County, PA. Trump speaks in 2.5 hours. Crowd is significantly smaller than Butler, Trump’s last rally in the Pittsburgh area. Still time for more to arrive, but would estimate 1-2 thousand right now. Stay tuned for updates pic.twitter.com/22n3qs6HRd
— Ryan Deto (@RyanDeto) October 19, 2024
Related:
• Elon Musk to appear in Pittsburgh on Sunday
• Trump, Harris barnstorm Western Pa. Here's where they have stopped
• Decision 2024: How Pittsburgh became the center of the political universe
Carnival atmosphere at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Unity for Trump rally. Merch booths, food stands dot roadway from parking lot. pic.twitter.com/TExXwfb2so
— Rich Cholodofsky (@RichCholodofsky) October 19, 2024
Trump appeared before a large crowd in an Oct. 5 campaign stop at the Butler Farm Show grounds, 2½ months after he survived an assassination attempt at the Butler Township venue. Gunman Thomas Crooks grazed Trump’s ear, killed one rallygoer and wounded two others before being shot to death by the Secret Service.
The campaigns have been particularly active in Western Pennsylvania in the past week.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the running mate of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, campaigned in the region Tuesday with stops in Lawrence, Butler and Allegheny counties. Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance, made a campaign stop in Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Pennsylvania is a critical swing state in this year’s tight presidential race, with 19 electoral votes at stake.
Trump and Harris campaigned in Michigan — another swing state — on Friday.
Trump goes silent for 18 minutes in Detroit after Huntington Place microphone goes out https://t.co/YLnBYJJKYT via @freep
— Todd Spangler (@tsspangler) October 19, 2024
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Time to help make REAL Change
Time to make a Difference
It is Time ⏳ #CTESPN pic.twitter.com/nS2TAJ7bxP
— AB (@AB84) October 17, 2024
Musk, a Trump ally, is also expected to be in Pittsburgh Sunday for a town hall.
Like the rally in Butler earlier this month, the venue is again surrounded by a perimeter of semi truck trailers — presumably for security purposes @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/WiC7OFMZE9
— Shane Dunlap (@shanedunlap) October 19, 2024
Lucie Roth, 53, of Pittsburgh’s North Hills neighborhood, has been at @realDonaldTrump’s rally in Unity since 7:30 a.m.
“It’s been steady. It’s never stopped,” she said of the crowds filing into the venue. | @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/bVOMxl0lrw
— Quincey Reese (@QuinceyReese) October 19, 2024
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