When I was told by the news team that I would be needed to help cover the Trump rally this week, I could barely contain my excitement. In a world without a 4-month-old at home and coaching baseball, I probably would have been standing in line for tickets, instead I get an opportunity to cover the historic event. But, I had no idea what I was walking into.
My press credentials were actually accepted first out of the entire news team. I joked that the Trump team must have seen my social media in support of him, that's why I was approved first, and a part of me still wants to believe that. You see I have taken many knocks for being a supporter of Trump, one of his earliest that I know in fact, and I have never wavered in that support, so this was going to be a special event.
I have told the story on the radio before and was even asked to come on left-wing political shows to explain my stance before he won the presidency, the first time. When Trump first announced his candidacy I was all aboard. I am someone who has always believed in the financial side of the political spectrum and didn't care much about social issues. I have said that I don't need a president I can sit and have a beer with, I just want results. I was on the bandwagon from day one and told I was delusional to think he could win. He wouldn't win the nomination of the Republican party and certainly not the presidency. I was publicly laughed at by a left-wing radio host who mocked the idea that he could win. But I knew he would.
When did I know? Well, we took a trip to Southern Illinois to see my wife's family. This was farm upon farm country. As we drove back the kids were asleep and we passed through Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania for almost 20 hours. I didn't see one Hillary sign or flag. What I did see was Trump flags, Trump bumper stickers, and Trump support from farms and small towns. That's when I knew.
Fast-forward to this week and I was going to something that we have never witnessed before. A political rally on a grand scale in a blue state, my home state, for a Republican candidate. As I entered the parking lot, the feeling that this was something special only grew. Meeting people, seeing the support for the police, military and faith in God so widely and openly expressed made me proud to be an American. And, yes you could hear that song playing loud and clear throughout the day. The music was on point, the overall vibe was fun and friendly and as it was pure national pride being expressed. The amount of Trump gear was only outnumbered by American flags, and I only wished I wasn't in my suit and could join the fun.
After we entered the arena, it all sort of started to sink in how historic this moment really was. Whispers of "Does he really think he can win New York?" came over the crowd and even his most adamant supporters seemed to doubt that. I thought back to that long car ride across the heart of the country and likened it to my drive across Suffolk and into Nassau that morning. There wasn't a Biden or Harris flag or sticker anywhere, but Trump was well-represented. There is a reason he is here, and I bought it. New York is in play.
The crowd kept things alive and the ovation for local heroes, like Lee Zeldin were deafening. The chants of "Rudy, Rudy" rang out as America's mayor gave an impassioned speech and then it was time. Trump didn't just walk out on stage and give an everyday political speech. Instead, he went right for the heart of New Yorkers and proclaimed that "we will win New York." The crowd erupted at the normal points of Trump's speeches, but when he spoke about the police and military it really hit another note. Long Island is as pro-police as anywhere I've ever been and it showed. His telling of how life used to be sending a kid on a train and not having to worry seemed like a lifetime ago, but we all felt that same sentiment. The same with his pointing out MS-13 and the threat they are to our children. Trump wasn't talking to America, he was talking to New York, Long Island and felt like he was talking to me. Especially when he mentioned my hometown of Levittown.
I was sitting next to a woman and her two mid 20-year-old daughters. They were from Cuba and were the biggest supporters of Trump because they feared what Harris would do to democracy. The one daughter said "mom this is surreal. This is just so surreal." That word resonated in my mind because that is all I could think about this event afterwards. Surreal.
There I was standing maybe 20 yards from Donald Trump, who was running for president for a second time, after a second assassination attempt, in New York of all places, just weeks before the election and he is spending time here rather than Ohio, Pennsylvania or another swing state because he believes New York is in play. After so many doubted him for so long, I have been steadfast in my support and I walked away thinking why would anyone ever doubt him again. This moment, this night and this presidential run has been, well...surreal. I am just thankful I am part of the South Shore Press and was able to be a witness to history.