CULLMAN, Ala. – Thunderstorms certainly did not dampen the spirits of the Trump faithful at Saturday’s “Save America” rally in Cullman.
According to event organizers, more than 30,000 people were on hand for Donald Trump’s first post-presidency visit to the Yellowhammer State. It was a favorable venue for Trump, as the 2020 presidential election saw the former president garner over 88% of all votes cast in the bright red North Alabama county of Cullman.
Massive lines of Trump supporters anxiously awaited entry into the jam-packed rally at York Family Farms as a consistent downpour of rain fell from dreary skies.
Joining the thousands of grassroots supporters were some of the state’s most prominent elected officials; a who’s who of Alabama Republican Party politics.
GOP donors brushed shoulders with their party’s brass in a reception area prior to the rally’s start. Among the state’s top elected leaders were U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, Attorney General Steve Marshall, Secretary of State John Merrill, State Auditor Jim Zeigler as well as U.S. Reps. Mo Brooks, Robert Aderholt, Gary Palmer and Jerry Carl.
The Legislature was well-represented with members of the GOP Caucus from both chambers were in attendance, including Senate Pro Tem Greg Reed and Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield.
U.S. Senate and congressional candidates made their rounds shaking hands and speaking to members of the press.
Perhaps the figure that garnered the most fanfare was My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell, who is a celebrity amongst the most loyal of Trump supporters.
Another fan-favorite, U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) paraded the jubilant crowd minutes before the rally began holding a sign that read “Impeach Biden.”
Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Parker was the first to take the stage as he led a word of prayer. Following Parker was 101-year-old veteran and local businessman Roy Drinkard, who led the crowd in the pledge of allegiance.
Alabama Republican Party chairman John Wahl kicked off the rally in an impassioned speech in which he lambasted Democrats, who he referred to as the “ruling class,” later going on to label them “communists.”
The pre-Trump speaking lineup consisted of federal and state elected officials.
In a fiery speech, State Rep. Andrew Sorrell, who served as chairman of the Alabama Delegation to the Republican National Convention, gave a call to action to rally attendees. He encouraged conservatives to attempt to “convince Trump to run for president in 2024.”
State Sen. Garlan Guger welcomed the crowd to his hometown of Cullman. He expressed his appreciation to Trump for “kicking liberals’ ass from sea to shining sea.” He later touted the accomplishments of the Legislature for its work during the peak of the pandemic.
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt took the stage to slam Democrats, saying they wish to “make America more like Venezuela.” He went on to say that he believes in 2022 voters will “kick the socialist Democrats out of Washington.”
“There’s no doubt Donald Trump has changed the Republican Party,” said Aderholt. Later going on to say “he showed us how to make America great again.”
Attorney General Steve Marshall declared that Biden will “be a one-term president.” He blasted the progressive policies the Biden administration has implemented, which he says are dictated by the “woke mob.”
“President Biden has resided over the greatest increase in violent crime, particularly murder, in the history of our country,” Marshall said, vowing to continue the fight for law and order.
Perhaps delivering the most hard-hitting speech of the night was Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth, during which he called for the president’s removal from office.
“It’s time for Joe Biden to be impeached! It’s time for Republicans to stand up,” declared Ainsworth.
He prefaced his call for Biden’s impeachment by railing against the recent collapse of Afghanistan and an array of other grievances he holds against the administration. Ainsworth ended his speech by stating that he wishes his children “inherit Donald Trump’s America.”
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville touted the former president’s accomplishments. He noted the large crowd size, saying “they used to call it Woodstock, this is ‘Trumpstock’ in Cullman County.
The last speaker before Trump took the stage was U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks. He expounded his popular claim that Democrats are attempting to steal “accurate and honest elections.” Electoral integrity was the focal point of his speech. The North Alabama congressman railed against “evil socialists,” who he believes are infringing upon Americans’ religious liberty.
After hours of patiently awaiting the former president, supporters were given the opportunity to hear from Trump himself.
Trump’s speech highlighted his repeated belief that the 2020 presidential election was “rigged.” He honed in on the last election until eventually moving on to other issues. Trump blasted Biden’s handling of the situation in Afghanistan, saying “this will go down as one of the great military defeats of all time.”
“What the hell happened to the United States,” asked Trump, going on to tout his foreign policy record compared to that of the current administration’s.
Trump later attacked what he called the “woke” generals. He expanded on the topic of what many call ‘wokeness’ by slamming some on the left’s calls for the removal of certain statues memorializing historical American figures.
The former president commended John Wahl for his role in the Alabama Republican Party raising a record $1.2 million from Trump’s visiting the state.
“Do you know what you raised tonight? A record in the history of the Republican Party, I think also in the history of the Democrat Party, if we can say that. You raised $1.2 million.”
He jokingly said, “And I didn’t ask for anything,” noting that the funds are usually divided between his campaign and the state party.
“I said, ‘The hell with it’. Alabama’s so good let’s let them keep the whole damn thing,” said Trump.
He then turned his attention to the newly-created U.S. Space Force, which will station its Space Command in Huntsville. Trump expressed that it was a difficult decision, but he was inevitably happy to select the Yellowhammer State.
“We selected Huntsville, Alabama as the new headquarters of the U.S. Space Command,” said Trump. “Oh, I made some enemies,” saying “a lot of states wanted it but we put it in Alabama.”
Before ending his speech, Trump noted the large crowd size and gave a nod to his supporters for staying through the rain.
Judging by the reception the former president received from his loyal band of supporters in North Alabama, it is evident that Trump still holds significant political power in the Alabama Republican Party and its grassroots base only months removed from the White House.
Dylan Smith is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL
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