Just arrived at the airport where Trump’s rally is being held. Long lines

Chants of “four more years.”

Over the loudspeaker, attendees were just told that if they see a protester to hold a rally sign above them and shout “Trump Trump Trump” “so security can remove them.”

This is Tommy Barron, a 19yo from Chesapeake. His mom, a Navy vet, made his tshirt. He came with a friend and said he wanted to see the president because it’s not often you can. “I feel a lot safer” under Trump, he said.

What was a long line has largely cleared. Very infrequent mask wearing until you get to the front of the line, where attendees are being told to put on a mask. They have disposable masks for people who didn’t bring one.

See a fair number of NC plates. “I love how he looks after the American people,” said Mary Lou Allen, from Nags Head. “I love how he believes in the religion. I believe he reduces our taxes. And I think he did a great job with COVID. The economy is awesome. I hate the media.”

Allen wore an OBX for Trump shirt and a “Trump 2020” mask over an N95 mask. She said she wasn’t worried about the crowds. “I know how to protect myself,” she said.

She brought her friend, Jennifer Oakey, who said she was a Democrat until this year. Oakey said she was nervous about crowds (health officials have estimated as many as 4,000 people could attend). “I’ve been away from people since March. But Trump is more important,” she said.

Just talked to a couple from Yorktown. They got here around 10 am to get a good parking spot, left, and then Ubered back and were tailgating with friends, sipping from red solo cups out of the back of a white SUV sporting a large Trump-Pence flag. It’s their first rally ever.

Vance Field said their neighborhood is “pretty red.” His friend, Clay Schreiber of Williamsburg, was who convinced him to come. “He said this is a swing state and we need to show our support,” Field said. Trump “is our man,” his wife Rose added.

Inside now. Here’s the crowd. @NickForVA is speaking now. Says the “problem with the Democratic Party is not that they’re liberal: it’s they’re authoritarian.”

“This is our opportunity to stand up and prove that we are worthy of every generation that came before us,” @NickForVA says.

Scott Taylor, who is running to return to Congress in Virginia’s second district, just spoke. “In a few weeks, we’ve got some choosing to do. We’ve got to choose freedom over socialism.”

“We’ve got to choose law and order over lawlessness,” said Taylor, whose second former campaign staffer pleaded guilty to election fraud this week: https://www.pilotonline.com/news/crime/vp-nw-campaign-staffer-plea-20200924-udqio4n44ra3bgbqzdjcjlmjxy-story.html

For the last few minutes, it’s been a music break. “Billie Jean,” “Saturday Night’s Alright,” “My Heart Will Go On” and now the classic, “I Want it That Way” by the Backstreet Boys.

Crowd is chanting “four more years” over the Backstreet Boys.

Now “My Way” by Sinatra.

Followed by more Michael Jackson: “Beat it.” Saw some supporters in the front punching the air in enthusiasm.

Vice President Mike Pence has taken the stage. “It is great to be back in the Old Dominion state.”

“The road to victory runs right through the Tidewater,” Pence says.

Pence’s appearance was a surprise. His remarks so far have focused heavily on the military and veterans.

“We’ve stood for the rule of law every day,” Pence says. ... “In three short years we made America great again. And then the coronavirus struck from China.” Says Trump’s actions handling the pandemic have saved “untold lives.” The US death toll passed 200,000 this week.

“The choice in this election is whether America remains America,” Pence says, or “whether we make a turn to the radical left.”

Pence says if people pray, God will “heal this nation.” Asks the crowd to pray for America. Air Force One just landed a few minutes ago, so his remarks are wrapping up. Trump wasn’t expected until 9.

Staff are affixing the presidential seal to the podium as “Eye of the Tiger” plays.

POTUS is here.

Trump just disembarked.

Trump just took the stage. Crowd is ecstatic.

Trump says hello Newport News, “I know it well.” Says he’s in Virginia because “let’s give it a shot.” Wants to win the state. “We’ll bring in the heavy artillery, our great Vice President Mike Pence.”

Trump says he had nothing to do today so he read the papers, “the fake news” (cheers) and then he had a round table with “the Hispanics” in Florida.

Trump says he’s polling better among Hispanics than any president “since maybe Abraham Lincoln,” but “Abraham had other things to think about.” He’s now discussing whether to call people Black or African American, says he will say whatever people prefer.

Trump says it’s a great crowd and asks the TV cameras to show the crowds, which just turned to shout at the press risers.