President to visit Greenville for rally

Published 3:47 pm Wednesday, July 3, 2019

The President of the United States is coming to eastern North Carolina for a political rally this month.

The rally was announced on President Donald Trump’s campaign website earlier this week, and is scheduled for 7 p.m. July 17 at Minges Coliseum in Greenville.

Trump’s visit will come shortly after the conclusion of the second primary in the special election to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of Congressman Walter Jones.

The second primary, which concludes Tuesday, will see Republican voters choose between North Carolina Representative Dr. Greg Murphy, of Greenville, and Dr. Joan Perry, of Kinston, to determine which will be the party’s nominee during a general election on Sept. 10.

For some, like N.C. Representative Keith Kidwell, a staunch Trump supporter, the president’s upcoming visit is generating excitement.

“I’ll be there, if not at the House,” Kidwell said Wednesday. “I’m glad to see the President come to our area. The people like to have the opportunity to see their elected officials.”

While Trump’s political rallies are generally met with enthusiasm and excitement among supporters, they have also drawn protesters critical of the president’s policies. An event posted to social media on Wednesday indicates that protesters will attend the rally to protest the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers at the southern border.

“There are many people in the community who are very disturbed by what’s happening at our border,” said event organizer Amy Bright. “We’re disturbed about the conditions that migrants are being held in, we’re concerned about children being separated from their parents, we’re concerned about children not having appropriate caregivers and we’re concerned about the lack of adequate sanitation at these facilities. This administration’s policies are exacerbating the situation… This is an opportunity for the people to express these concerns.”

Trump previously visited Greenville in Sept. 2016 during the final leg of his campaign to win the White House. His upcoming visit falls on the same day former special counsel Robert Mueller is scheduled to publicly testify on his investigation into the Trump campaign, according to the Associated Press.

Those interested in attending the rally can apply for up to two tickets per mobile phone number at www.donaldjtrump.com. Tickets are available on a first come, first served basis. Minges Coliseum has a capacity of about 8,000 people.