Trump reminisces about Arnold Palmer, boasts steel workers’ praise at Unity Township rally
Former President Donald Trump returned to Westmoreland County on Saturday, meandering through many subjects, including his friendship with local legend Arnold Palmer, lampooning his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, getting the individual endorsements of some Mon Valley steelworkers and repeating false claims that he won the 2020 election.
Trump began his remarks at 6 p.m., starting with a setting sun and ending under a clear dark sky. He spoke for about 90 minutes in a speech that included several weaves — his own term for his meandering oratorical style.
“They stole an election from an American president,” Trump said to a cheering crowd at Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, referencing the 2020 election that was won by President Joe Biden.
The former president started his speech by reminiscing about golf legend Palmer, who grew up in Latrobe. 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.
Later, he reiterated the importance of Pennsylvania for his campaign, saying “if we win Pennsylvania, we win the whole thing.” Trump lamented that Harris is too far left for Pennsylvanians, using curse words to describe the vice president.
“Kamala, you are fired. Get the hell out of here,” Trump said.
Saturday marked Trump’s fifth rally in the Pittsburgh region and his smallest one to date.
With just over two weeks before the election, Trump drew about 3,000 people to the Unity rally at the airport.
The crowd was noticeably smaller than his previous rallies in the area. He drew more than 6,000 people at rallies in Indiana and Johnstown, and earlier this month had more than 20,000 attend his return to Butler County and the site of an assassination attempt that killed one rally goer and injured two others.
At the airport, Trump said there were people as far as the eye could see, although it was far from 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
Saturday’s rally had the usual flair, including special guests like former Steelers players Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, as well as a flyover from Trump’s plane, Trump Force One.
Although people may say he and Trump are crazy: “We are not, they are,” Brown said during a brief speech before Trump arrived.
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
Trump touched on several of his well-trod subjects at the rally, including energy, immigration and manufacturing.
Rallygoers held signs reading “Save Our Fracking” as Trump spoke about ending “Pennsylvania’s war on energy.”
“We will frack, frack, frack, and drill, baby, drill,” Trump said.
Last year, Pennsylvania reported near record highs in natural gas production, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Each year of the Biden-Harris administration, Pennsylvania has produced more than 7 million cubic feet of natural gas, a feat never accomplished under the Trump or Obama administrations.
Trump’s speech had some surprises as well, including a group of individual steelworkers endorsing Trump at the rally, breaking with their national union.
Trump invited them onstage about one hour into his rally. They worked at steel facilities in Clairton, Braddock and West Mifflin. Some local steelworkers formed a Facebook group called Steelworkers for Trump that boasts about 700 members, said one of the steelworkers.
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
The U.S. Steel facilities in the Mon Valley boast more than 3,000 workers. The national United Steelworkers union, which represents 850,000 workers across manufacturing, heavy industry, health care and education sectors, endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris the day after she entered the race in July.
Jason Zugai, vice president of United Steelworkers 2227, said he is personally endorsing Trump, breaking with his union.
“We need a president who is going to protect our jobs and put America first,” Zugai said.
Zugai has also fought with top union brass because he supports the proposed sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Bernie Hall, president of District 10 United Steelworkers that covers the Mon Valley, said local branches are not endorsing Trump, just these individuals at the rally.
United Steelworkers international president David McCall reiterated the union’s support for Harris in a statement.
“Workers need elected officials who will fight for us and our priorities,” McCall said. “In this presidential race, the choice is clear: When it comes to retirement security, affordable health care, workers’ rights and more, only Kamala Harris and Tim Walz have the values and vision to deliver.”
Trump also addressed his legal troubles, which he claimed were scams and corrupt and said they’ve only helped his campaign. But he exuded confidence that he would prevail in court and at the ballot box.
“We have them on the ropes,” he said. “The finish line is finally in sight.”
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 could be back in Western Pennsylvania very soon. He is 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 fiancee, 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 came 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, 21⁄2 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 Thursday in Pittsburgh.
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
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 for a town hall Sunday.
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