Recap: Trump held campaign rally in Mosinee, speaking on various campaign promises
Former president Donald Trump held a rally in Mosinee Saturday afternoon as part of his presidential campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris. The city is in central Wisconsin state near Wausau and Stevens Point.
This was Trump's fourth rally of this campaign cycle in Wisconsin, after holding rallies in Green Bay, Waukesha and Racine. He also took part in a town hall event in La Crosse last week. Both Democrat and Republican campaigns have been visiting the state frequently with less than 10 weeks until Election Day.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is providing live coverage of the event; you can follow along here for updates. Be sure to refresh your browser often for the latest:
Takeaways from Trump's Mosinee rally
Former President Donald Trump addressed about 7,000 people in central Wisconsin on Saturday in his fourth Wisconsin rally of the 2024 campaign.
Speaking behind a bulletproof barrier, Trump made a litany of promises — including ending the Russia-Ukraine war before being sworn in to office, abolishing the federal Department of Education and fending off World War III.
The former president was expected to deliver remarks focused on the economy, but his discursive speech bounced from topic to topic following his mindset at any given moment.
Read more: Hannibal Lecter, Al Capone and a list of promises. Takeaways from Trump's Mosinee rally
— Laura Schulte, Jessie Opoien
Local couple believes in Trump win in November
Tony and Jenette Sherfinski, of Schofield, “he stands up and fights. He's been the best president we've had since Ronald Reagan,” Tony said.
Strong conservatives, Tony and Jennette said they were feeling enthusiastic even after Harris joined the campaign. They expressed mistrust about how she became the nominee after Biden dropped out.
“What the Democrats did with Harris is not democratic at all,” Tony said.” Their voters actually should feel cheated.”
He challenged Harris to come to central Wisconsin like Trump.
“I would challenge vice president Harris. If she owns the last three and a half years, go out and hold rallies like this, and let's see how many people show up,” he said.
— Laura Schulte
As Trump's speech nears 1.5 hours, attendees trickle out
As Trump's speech went over 1.5 hours Saturday afternoon, many attendees began leaving the Central Wisconsin Airport.
The back of the crowd had greatly thinned by 3 p.m., as Trump continued to talk. Those who remained were still lively, though, cheering and clapping.
— Laura Schulte
Trump pledges to send education policy to states 'so Ron Johnson can run it'
Trump pledged to, as president, eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and send such policymaking back to the state level.
"We'll send it back to the states so that Ron Johnson can run it," he said, referring to Wisconsin's Republican U.S. senator. "OK, we'll send it back here. Mr. Tiffany, we'll get our congressman (U.S. Rep. Tom) Tiffany involved."
Neither Johnson nor Tiffany play a role in state government or the state Department of Instruction, which oversees education in Wisconsin. Jill Underly, a Democrat, was elected to lead DPI in 2021. State education policy is set by that agency and the state Legislature and governor.
— Jessie Opoien
Trump claims he's been more indicted 'more than Al Capone'
"You know, he's the ultimate criminal," Trump said of the late Chicago gangster Al Capone. "I got indicted more than him. My parents are up there. They're great people. They're looking down at me right now: 'I can't believe this has happened to my son. He's been indicted more than Al Capone.'"
Trump has been indicted four times. Capone was indicted at least six times.
"He would take that man sitting right in the front row … Look at him. He's tough as hell. (Capone) would take him out to dinner; if he didn't like him, you were gone. You would never be found again. You'd be in the foundation of a building. You would form the foundation of a building in some place in Wisconsin. Now, Alphonse Capone led a very vicious, violent life, but according to the statistics, I am a much worse person than Alphonse Capone. I don't think so."
— Jessie Opoien
Members of the thousands-strong crowd collapse due to heat
As Trump began his speech, members of the crowd started to struggle with the close quarters of the attendees and the direct sun beating down on the asphalt where the rally was being held.
EMTs were busy caring for a number of people who had fallen in the crowd, allowing them to sit, drink water and get checked by health professionals.
Trump later stopped the rally when a woman collapsed in the crowd. EMTs rushed to help and ran an IV on the woman in the midst of supporters, who raised their hands in prayer around them.
— Laura Schulte
Trump addresses Mosinee crowd guarded by bulletproof barrier
In his fourth Wisconsin rally of the 2024 campaign, Republican former President Donald Trump addressed supporters from behind a bulletproof barrier.
Trump was last in Wisconsin a week ago, when he held a town hall event in La Crosse. Last month, he accepted the Republican Party's presidential nomination at its national convention in Milwaukee after being wounded in an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania.
"It's a little tough life. It's not the easiest. You get shot at, other things happen, other routine events happen. But we're going to do it for one reason," Trump said.
"Just a little while ago, a reporter said, 'Sir If you had to do it again, would you do it again?' I said, 'Absolutely, because we're going to make America great again. And that's better than my life.'"
— Jessie Opoien
Trump rally attendees focus on immigration and economy
Voters in line Saturday for the Trump rally in Mosinee said their top concerns were immigration, the economy and freedom. They said Trump continues to be popular while raising concerns about the process the Democratic Party used to change its presidential ticket just over 100 days before the Nov. 5 election.
"Trump talks about things that make sense and I think that's going to bring our country back together," Tracy from Curtis, Wisconsin, said.
"Enthusiasm for both sides is really high. I think there's high energy for both sides. Everybody get out there and vote," Tracy continued.
— Erik Pfantz
Attendees from Japan play instruments for those in line
Yeasuyo Urabe, a resident of Japan, was among those waiting in line to see Trump. She and a group of other Japanese residents have been in the U.S. attending Trump rallies for the last month and will remain in the U.S. until mid-September.
Part of a conservative Christian group, Urabe said she came to the U.S. to highlight the importance re-electing Trump.
“We need to prevent the invasion of communism,” she said.
— Laura Schulte
Attendees for Trump rally line up in Mosinee
Thousands of people lined up in Mosinee Saturday morning awaiting former President Trump’s remarks in the afternoon. Countless vendors are selling Trump items from hats and shirts to decorative collectors plates.Trump is expected to take the stage around 1 p.m.
— Laura Schulte
Where is Trump's rally today in Mosinee?
Trump is holding the campaign rally at Central Wisconsin Airport about 1 p.m. today. This will be Trump's third campaign event at the Central Wisconsin Airport, which is owned by Marathon and Portage counties.
He used the same airport for a rally during his 2020 campaign.
Mosinee is part of Wisconsin's solidly red 7th Congressional District, which is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany.
Tickets for the rally are available here.
What time is Trump's rally in Mosinee?
The rally is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Trump held presidential campaign rally in Mosinee, Wisconsin