MOBILE, Ala. — In what one attendee referred to as “something between a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert and the Daytona 500,” tens of thousands of Donald Trump supporters flocked to Ladd-Peebles Stadium one year ago this week for the largest event of the Republican presidential primary.
It was a stunning show of populist might for Mr. Trump at a time when prevailing wisdom was that he would be a political shooting star, shining brightly before quickly burning out.
At an early stage of the campaign, while most candidates were flying commercial and traversing the country on buses, the first sign of Trump’s presence in The Port City was the silhouette of “Trump Force One,” the billionaire real estate mogul’s private Boeing 757.
Ever the showman, Mr. Trump directed the jet’s pilot to perform a flyover of the stadium before landing at the nearby airport. Every major media outlet in the country was there to capture the mayhem.
Trump was preceded on stage by a host of local and state elected officials who endorsed him before an anxious crowd. Then with anticipation reaching a fevered pitch, the man himself emerged, backed by “Sweet Home Alabama” blaring over the PA system.
“We have a great politician here,” Trump began. “We have a man here who really helped me. He was the one person I sought his counsel because he’s been so spot-on. He’s so highly respected. Has anyone ever heard of senator Jeff Sessions?”
The crowd erupted in applause and exploded when Sessions briefly donned a “Make America Great Again” hat before taking the mic.
“Donald, welcome to my hometown, Mobile, Alabama,” Sessions said as the crowed roared. “The American people — these people — want somebody in the presidency who stands up for them, defends their interests and the laws and traditions of this country. We welcome you here. Thank you for the work you have put into the immigration issue. I’m really impressed with your plan. I know it will make a difference. And this crowd shows a lot of people agree with that.”
Sessions stopped well short of endorsing Trump at the time — he would not make that official for another six months — but it was clear the senator was pleased to see the immigration ideas he had long espoused being a major plank in the Trump policy platform.
Trump heaped praise on Sessions, noting the senator and his staff had advised him on his recently-released immigration plan. “We’re going to build a wall!” He declared, launching into his remarks.
The candidate then delivered an hour-long meandering speech — the kind that had been a staple of his campaign since he tossed his prepared remarks aside when first announcing his candidacy just two months prior.
“We have politicians that don’t have a clue,” declared Trump. “They’re all talk, no action. What’s happening to this country is disgraceful.”
Trump’s decision to hold an event in Mobile raised some eyebrows at the time. South Alabama is not typically a hotbed of national politics. But talking heads later acknowledged the Trump campaign’s savvy maneuver.
Several southern states, including Alabama, had teamed up to hold their primaries on March 1 in the so-called SEC primary. By banding together, the South was positioned to be much stronger force in the nominating process. Trump’s stadium event was a statement that he was going to play to win in the South, where many rock-ribbed conservatives were attracted to his tough talk on immigration and trade. It ultimately paid off, as Trump swept every one of Alabama’s 67 counties and steamrolled across the South.
Trump fittingly exited the stage in Mobile to Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” before making his way back to his plane in typical Trump fashion — a giant motorcade of black Cadillacs.
Flash forward a year and Trump is the Republican nominee entrenched in a tough fight with Hillary Clinton. The Sessions staffer who had helped craft his lauded immigration position paper behind the scenes has since then become one of Trump’s most influential advisors, even crafting his nomination acceptance speech. And Senator Sessions himself is one of Trump’s most prominent surrogates and chairman of his National Security Advisory Committee.
As a sure win for Trump, Alabama has not played as prominent a role in the General Election, but Yellowhammer State residents won’t soon forget Trumpapalooza 2015: the night Alabama was the center of the political universe.
