Devendra Kumar
As the July 4th holiday approached, former US President Donald Trump made a triumphant return to large-scale rallies with a speech to thousands gathered in the streets of a small South Carolina city. Speaking at a roaring crowd on Main Street, Trump expressed his enthusiasm for being surrounded by “hardworking South Carolina patriots who believe in God, family, and country.” The rally took place in downtown Pickens, a city of around 3,400 residents in the conservative Upstate region of South Carolina.
According to law enforcement officials, around 15,000 people had gathered by 11 a.m., two hours before Trump’s remarks. Trump’s rally effectively shut down Pickens’ quintessential southern downtown, drawing a crowd unlike anyone else in the 2024 presidential campaign, including other Republican hopefuls like Florida governor Ron DeSantis, former US vice president Mike Pence, and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
Trump’s 2024 campaign has been distinct from his previous efforts in 2016 and 2020, which drew thousands to rallies across the country. Instead of holding rallies in large public venues, Trump has opted for more intimate settings, such as his first South Carolina campaign event inside the Statehouse in Columbia, where he rolled out his state leadership team at an invitation-only gathering.
The rally in Pickens was only Trump’s second large event of the 2024 campaign, following a rally in Waco, Texas, in March, where he criticized the prosecutors investigating him on hush-money charges. Trump’s rallies are also expensive to organize, although he continues to bring in millions in fundraising despite the ongoing investigations.
In a crowded Republican field, Trump’s campaign has pointed to polls showing him with a considerable lead over his rivals, despite a less robust campaign schedule than many of his opponents. Trump has also given frequent media interviews and appeared at multi-candidate events, including the recent Moms for Liberty gathering in Philadelphia.
Trump’s return to large-scale rallies may signal a renewed focus on his campaign, particularly as the July 4th holiday weekend approaches. As he continues to garner attention and support, Trump’s efforts may be seen as a bold move to solidify his position in the crowded Republican field.