UNIVERSITY PARK — The long line outside the Bryce Jordan Center late Saturday morning included Penn State gear and MAGA apparel; Hundreds of people were waiting for the gates to open for former President Donald Trump’s campaign rally.

Despite a scheduled start time of 4pm, the event’s doors opened at noon and many attendees arrived early Saturday morning to get in line. By noon, thousands began streaming into the Penn State building, an orderly sea of ​​red hats, sweatshirts and flags featuring some of the campaign’s famous iconography and slogans: “Trump Won,” “Too Big to Rig,” and the now-famous red hats. Photo from the failed assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania.

For Penn Tech sophomores Emma Kane and Jacob Parker, Nov. 5 will be their first presidential election. Both said they have supported the former president since 2016, but this fall will be their first opportunity to vote for him.

“I’m excited and happy to do my part,” Parker said, wearing a black Make America Great Again hat.

Making the November election “Too Big for the Rig” was a common theme for the crowd; There were posters and flags inside and outside the venue promoting false conspiracies and misinformation about election fraud. Since losing the 2020 election, Trump has consistently promoted the false claim of interference, calling the election “rigged.” Many Trump voters, whose investigations found no evidence of widespread election fraud, repeated the lie that Trump won in 2020.

Speaking hours before Trump took the stage, U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene said election integrity is an important point in the upcoming election. Taylor Greene has repeatedly pushed false theories about the 2020 election, including the accuracy of Dominion voting machines.

“Election integrity is something I will be careful about,” Taylor Green told CDT. “I want to see how the elections turn out. Make sure all votes are counted. “Make sure there is no election fraud through absentee voting, overseas voting or machine voting.”

The upper sections of the BJC were closed, but the lower section of the venue was mostly full; appeared to be a mix of local attendees, students, and others traveling to the event. Many stayed until the end, but about 40 minutes into Trump’s nearly 75-minute speech, some crowd members headed for the exits prematurely.

Sean Moon, a preacher from the controversial Rod of Iron Ministries, traveled from Tennessee to attend. Saturday’s rally will be his 18th this year; He hopes to reach three more people before the election.

“Many of our community around the world are coming to pray that America will stand strong during this time and take back President Trump,” Moon said.

Thomas Fair, a farmer from Bedford County, drove an hour and a half to see Trump’s speech. He said he believes Trump will run again because of his sincere desire to help middle-class voters.

“Think about what he sacrificed to do this; he doesn’t have to do anything, he could just sit on one of his back porches and do nothing,” Fair said. “He’s trying to help the working people of America, and that’s why I strongly support him. “He’s after the real, working Americans who built this country.”

Frank Mellace, a State College resident and undecided voter, said he doesn’t consider himself a fan of the former president but couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see him in person.

“I just wanted to experience something of that nature,” Mellace said. “I’ve never seen a president or former president speak live before, so I thought it would be great.”

Mellace said he hopes people can see beyond the language and examine the policies each candidate is putting forward.

“Hopefully everyone will look at the issues, review the rhetoric, and understand the issues as more than just the rhetoric,” Mellace said. “It will help solve some things so our country can be a better place.”

Saturday’s event also included a protest of about 60 people. Protesters organized by Penn State student groups marched from downtown to the BJC.

Trump is the first candidate to visit Center County this election season. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez visited as part of her “Students for Harris” event on October 18, followed by several state governors, including Josh Shapiro, as part of the Harris/Walz campaign’s “Blue Wall Bus Tour” on October 20 . .

Team Trump’s bus stopped in State College on October 22 with Abel Maldonado, the former lieutenant governor of California; Kash Patel, former Defense Department chief of staff in the Trump administration; and Monica Crowley, former assistant secretary of the Treasury for public affairs.

The deadline for voter registration has passed in Pennsylvania. Election Day is November 5.