Trump is holding a rally in South Carolina on Saturday. Here’s what you need to know
Former President Donald Trump will return to South Carolina Saturday night, where he is expected to hold an hours-long rally in Florence to further cement his star power within the Republican Party, boost his preferred GOP candidates and blast two incumbents that he wants voted out.
The rally, taking place at Florence Regional Airport, will give Trump a big stage in a red Southern state that has historically played an outsized role in American presidential politics. It also will be Trump’s first visit to the Palmetto State since he lost the presidential election in 2020.
Since leaving the White House, Trump has remained a powerful figure in the Republican Party. He routinely holds political rallies, hosts political events of his own at his Florida estate and continues to wade into GOP primaries to exert and test his influence in races across the country.
Though Trump has not said whether he will run for office again in 2024, he has continued to tease the possibility.
The Trump rally in Florence is expected to draw thousands, even with the threat of rain in the forecast. The rally could also bring traffic headaches around the airport and nearby interstates.
As the former president returns to the Palmetto State, here’s what you need to know about Trump’s visit to Florence:
When and where is it being held?
Trump’s “Save America” rally is being held outside — rain or shine — at the Florence Regional Airport, 2100 Terminal Drive, on Saturday, March 12.
Florence sits smack dab in the middle of the state’s Pee Dee region and at the intersection of Interstates 20 and 95. It’s in South Carolina’s 7th Congressional District, where a contentious Republican congressional primary is heating up.
The Pee Dee, which covers the northeastern part of the state, also includes popular Grand Strand beach destinations like Myrtle Beach and Pawleys Island.
The district is currently represented by U.S. Rep. Tom Rice, R-Myrtle Beach, who has become a top Trump target.
When does it start?
Trump rallies tend to be all-day events, with the actual programming starting hours later.
For this rally, parking begins at 8 a.m. Doors open at 2 p.m.
Six guest speakers will start addressing the crowd at 4 p.m., acting as something of a warm-up act before Trump speaks to the crowd later in the evening.
When does Trump speak?
Trump will speak at 7 p.m. It will be Trump’s first political rally in the Palmetto State since February 2020, when he addressed supporters at the North Charleston Coliseum on the eve of the S.C. Democratic presidential primary.
Can I watch the rally on TV or online?
Newsmax is expected to carry the rally live on TV, and a Trump rally organizer said there will also be two online livestreams.
Right Side Broadcasting Network on YouTube will livestream the rally and often does its own pre-show coverage of the event. Rumble is expected to livestream Trump’s remarks.
Why is Trump coming to SC?
The event is not billed as a campaign event for any particular candidate, but Trump has invited three of his preferred candidates to speak.
The rally also puts the former president back in a Republican state that overwhelmingly voted for him in both 2016 and 2020.
Trump’s 2016 Republican presidential primary victory in South Carolina marked a turning point in solidifying his nomination.
“Any person who’s thinking about running in 2024 needs to start spending some time in South Carolina,” said Gibbs Knotts, a College of Charleston political scientist who also co-authored a book about the state’s role in the presidential nomination process. “And it is still pretty amazing the number of people he can draw to an event.”
Appearing in Florence also gives Trump the chance to take aim at Rice, who shocked his constituents and political watchers when he voted to impeach Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Trump is also expected to use some of his time criticizing another GOP incumbent, 1st District U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, R-Daniel Island.
Who else is speaking?
There are seven additional confirmed speakers for the rally, as of Thursday evening. The speakers can be grouped into two categories: S.C. Republican candidates and GOP figures.
Republican candidates
▪ Katie Arrington: The former State House lawmaker first made national waves in 2018, when she ran for Congress in South Carolina’s coastal 1st District seat and beat then-U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford in the Republican primary by making loyalty to Trump the centerpiece of her grassroots campaign. She went on to lose in the general election, marking the first time in nearly 40 years that the Charleston-anchored district had slipped out of GOP control.
This time, Arrington is challenging Mace for the Republican nomination and has characterized Mace as a “sellout.” Arrington received Trump’s endorsement within 48 hours of jumping into the race. She has also falsely claimed Trump won the 2020 presidential election.
▪ Russell Fry: The current State House lawmaker said he is challenging Rice for the Republican nomination in the 7th District because Rice broke his constituents’ trust by voting to impeach Trump. After Rice’s impeachment vote, both the Horry County and state GOP voted to censure him.
Since receiving Trump’s endorsement, Fry has dialed up his rhetoric about Rice, referring to him as a “villain” in a television ad that will air on national TV during Trump’s visit.
▪ Gov. Henry McMaster: McMaster may be one of Trump’s longest supporters. In early 2016, when McMaster was lieutenant governor to then Gov. Nikki Haley, he became the first statewide-elected official in the country to endorse Trump’s presidential bid. At the time, the move shocked political watchers but McMaster was rewarded for his loyalty. When Trump picked Haley to be his U.N. ambassador, it allowed McMaster to ascend to the governor’s office.
In 2018, McMaster won his first full term in office. The 74-year-old lifelong South Carolina Republican, if reelected, stands to become the longest-serving governor in South Carolina history. Trump last year endorsed McMaster in his 2022 reelection bid.
GOP figures
▪ Graham Allen: The one-time U.S. Army staff sergeant and Anderson resident has emerged as one of Trump’s biggest cheerleaders outside the Beltway. A contributor to Turning Point USA, a conservative think-tank, Allen briefly entered the 7th Congressional District GOP primary despite the fact that he did not live in the district he sought to represent.
When he droped out of the race in January, Trump thanked him for his “support of the MAGA ticket in 2022” and called him “a warrior for America First” policies.
▪ Lou Holtz: Holtz is a household name for college football fans, especially in South Carolina, where Holtz coached the Gamecocks from 1999 through 2004. As a major Trump supporter, the 85-year-old called Trump the “greatest president during my lifetime” in December 2020 as he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also shook up the football establishment in 2016 when he agreed with Trump that NFL players who took a knee during the national anthem should be punished.
▪ Brandon Judd: As president of the Arizona-based National Border Patrol Council, which represents roughly 18,000 Border Patrol agents, Judd is a regular on Capitol Hill and was often by Trump’s side on immigration issues during his time in the White House. Judd recently called what was happening at the U.S.-Mexico border “a man-made crisis” and criticized Biden for repealing Trump-era border policies.
▪ Drew McKissick: McKissick has been the chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party since 2017. He recently faced a challenge for the chairmanship from Lin Wood, a Georgia attorney who has falsely insisted Trump won the 2020 election. Trump endorsed McKissick, and McKissick has held onto his role as state party leader.
How could this impact the 7th District race?
After Rice voted to impeach Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 riot in Washington, D.C., a crowded field of challengers lined up to oust the five-term Republican congressman, arguing that they would have stood by Trump through the end of his term.
Rice has defended his vote to impeach Trump, and has argued that the former president’s actions that day violated the U.S. Constitution. As he’s run for reelection, he’s made a case that the GOP should stick with Trump’s policies but abandon him personally. At town hall events, Rice frequently notes that he voted for Trump’s priorities 94% of the time.
Trump’s visit could boost support for both Fry and himself in this corner of South Carolina, according to Jerry Rovner, the chairman of the 7th Congressional District for the state GOP. He described Trump’s visit as a “big deal.”
“I think it shows his commitment to (Fry),” Rovner said. “It’s one thing to support him and show up in ads, but to physically come and support him? Look at the times Bush or Obama physically went somewhere to support someone.”
At the same time, Trump’s visit highlights the break between the S.C. Republican Party and Rice. After Rice impeached Trump, both the Horry County and state GOP voted to censure him. Since then, Rice has said he hasn’t been invited to some major party events.
How could this impact the 1st District race?
In the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, Mace became one of Trump’s most vocal and prolific critics within the Republican Party.
She told CNN that Trump’s “entire legacy was wiped out” by what happened that day. She told The State newspaper she no longer believed in Trump. And when she was asked whether she believed Trump has a future in the Republican Party, Mace told Fox News, “I do not.” Mace cast herself as “a new voice for the Republican Party” but soon found herself standing mostly alone.
Her comments were enough to draw the ire of Trump, who has endorsed Arrington over Mace. In throwing his support behind Arrington, Trump has called her “a true Republican” and cast Mace as “an absolutely terrible candidate.” A day after the endorsement, Mace filmed a video outside Trump Tower in New York City to make her case.
The results of the June 14 primary will be a test of Trump’s continued influence over the GOP in a suburban Republican district that has shown signs of trending purple in recent election cycles. It could also be a small test of another Republican’s influence on the party.
Haley, a possible 2024 presidential candidate, has endorsed Mace in the Republican primary contest.
Trump’s visit gives Arrington a chance to boost her name recognition with the primary election fast-approaching, according to Knotts, the College of Charleston political scientist.
“She came into the race a little bit late, but this is really, really big news for her to appear at this rally, and will be something that I think will help her as she tries to win the nomination,” Knotts said.
Knotts predicts that images of Arrington’s appearance will be used in a variety of campaign materials moving forward. “It’s definitely something that they’re going to try to fundraise around and campaign around. It’s a key part of their strategy.”
He referenced Arrington’s campaign announcement video. “In that video, he was everywhere. Trump was mentioned a ton of times.”
I’m going to the rally. Where do I park?
Parking is available on-site at the airport. Trump rally organizers say attendees should enter at the crossroads of Stadium Road and East Palmetto Street. On-site ADA parking spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Parking begins at 8 a.m. Doors will open at 2 p.m., and rally attendees are asked to arrive no later than 3:30 p.m.
Once parked, walk down Missle Street toward South McCall Boulevard to enter the event.
Will this impact traffic?
The South Carolina Highway Patrol says that from 8 a.m. Saturday until the event is concluded, McCall Boulevard will be closed between East Palmetto Street and National Cemetery Road. Those attending are advised to use an alternate route.
Also, traffic in the area may be moving slowly, so drivers should expect some delays. Law enforcement will be directing traffic.
Will my flight in Florence be disrupted?
The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a temporary flight restriction for the Florence Regional Airport at 5:15 p.m. While the FAA restrictions should not affect flights arriving or departing Florence Regional Airport, be sure to double-check your flight information.
Reporters Adam Benson and J. Dale Shoemaker contributed to this report.
This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
