Trump rally in Waco, former stronghold of an anti-federal sect
Former United States President Donald Trump (archives)
Threatened with indictment, Donald Trump offers his first campaign rally for the presidential election on Saturday in a highly symbolic place, the Texas town of Waco, the scene 30 years ago of a deadly assault against a sect opposed to federal power.
The former US president, who claimed – wrongly – that he would be “arrested” on March 21 in New York in a payment case to pornographic actress Stormy Daniels, will take the stage at 5 p.m. local time, for her first rally for the 2024 election.
Big crowd in Texas – See you later! Donald Trump said on Saturday on his Truth Social social network.
Volunteers prepare an area at Waco Regional Airport ahead of former President Donald Trump's first campaign rally in 2024.
The city of Waco, population 130,000, remains associated with the anti-government Davidian sect.
In the spring of 1993, the world was suspended for 51 days by the FBI's siege of a ranch in which armed followers of guru David Koresh had taken refuge. Seventy-six cult members, including 20 children, were found dead after the ranch fire. Four police officers were also killed.
Donald Trump's campaign team did not respond to AFP inquiries about Waco being chosen for the rally.
L' former president, also under threat of investigations into his 2020 Georgia election lobbying and handling of classified White House records, regularly poses as the victim of a mysterious state of the x27;shadow.
The spectacular FBI search of his residence in Florida? A shocking abuse of power. The two infamous congressional impeachment proceedings he faced? A witch hunt.
By returning to his base in Waco – where up to 15,000 people are expected – Donald Trump is also renewing an exercise he loves. The scenes of the former president sketching small dance steps, or throwing his famous red caps to the crowd are now cult among his followers.
In the Texas town, some of his admirers were already stamping their feet on Friday night, visibly unconcerned about their idol's legal troubles.
Everything is distorted to give him a bad image, Kelly Heath, 49, told AFP, seeing it as an attempt to silence him.
This rally above all offers the Republican the opportunity to x27;to breathe new life into his campaign, which for the moment does not enjoy the hoped-for momentum, even if most polls give him the winner of a primary.
The billionaire, who continues against all odds to evoke alleged fraud never proven in the 2020 election, has also seen part of the right – and in particular its wealthy donors – turn to the new champion of the hard right, Ron DeSantis, 44.
Florida's governor is not yet officially in the race, but will undoubtedly be one of his biggest rivals for the Republican nomination in 2024.
