Today in Wheeling History: September 29--President Donald Trump held a rally at WesBanco Arena, campaigning for Republican Senate candidate Patrick Morrisey and drawing approximately 7,000 supporters (2018).
On September 29, 2018, President Donald Trump held a rally at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia, to campaign for Republican U.S. Senate nominee Patrick Morrisey. Around 7,000 supporters attended the event, with Trump endorsing Morrisey in his race against incumbent Democratic Senator Joe Manchin.
Trump touted economic improvements and support for coal miners. He suggested changing his slogan to "Keep America Great" for 2020. Morrisey spoke at length, praising Trump and criticizing Manchin, Obama, and Clinton. The crowd chanted slogans like "Joe's gotta go" and "Build that wall."
Outside the arena, hundreds of Trump supporters lined the streets, vastly outnumbering a small group of protesters. Some tense exchanges occurred between the groups, but no violence was reported. A contingent of laid-off General Motors workers from Ohio also attended to ask Trump to fulfill promises about jobs.
The rally coincided with an Oktoberfest celebration elsewhere in Wheeling. Some attendees were surprised to find copies of a nationalist newspaper left on car windshields, which a local rabbi found concerning. Overall, the event demonstrated strong support for Trump in West Virginia, while also highlighting some tensions around his presidency.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/3ee32e24), Wheeling Sunday News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/3hw4dhy4) (https://tinyurl.com/mtzbvr6t), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/27fvur2h) (https://tinyurl.com/mwbh4p5f)
Photo credits: Scott McCloskey, Jennifer Compston-Strough, and Heather Ziegler of the Wheeling Sunday News-Register
On September 29, 2018, President Donald Trump held a rally at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling, West Virginia, to campaign for Republican U.S. Senate nominee Patrick Morrisey. Around 7,000 supporters attended the event, with Trump endorsing Morrisey in his race against incumbent Democratic Senator Joe Manchin.
Trump touted economic improvements and support for coal miners. He suggested changing his slogan to "Keep America Great" for 2020. Morrisey spoke at length, praising Trump and criticizing Manchin, Obama, and Clinton. The crowd chanted slogans like "Joe's gotta go" and "Build that wall."
Outside the arena, hundreds of Trump supporters lined the streets, vastly outnumbering a small group of protesters. Some tense exchanges occurred between the groups, but no violence was reported. A contingent of laid-off General Motors workers from Ohio also attended to ask Trump to fulfill promises about jobs.
The rally coincided with an Oktoberfest celebration elsewhere in Wheeling. Some attendees were surprised to find copies of a nationalist newspaper left on car windshields, which a local rabbi found concerning. Overall, the event demonstrated strong support for Trump in West Virginia, while also highlighting some tensions around his presidency.
To learn more: Ohio County Public Library Archives, Wheeling WV (https://tinyurl.com/3ee32e24), Wheeling Sunday News-Register (https://tinyurl.com/3hw4dhy4) (https://tinyurl.com/mtzbvr6t), Wikipedia (https://tinyurl.com/27fvur2h) (https://tinyurl.com/mwbh4p5f)
Photo credits: Scott McCloskey, Jennifer Compston-Strough, and Heather Ziegler of the Wheeling Sunday News-Register
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