What did people who went to Trump’s Nebraska rally have to say?

GRAND ISLAND — While the midterm environment seems gloomy for Republicans, thousands in Grand Island came to see and support President Donald Trump at his rally in the ruby red state. 

As expected, the people waiting in line and attending the rally were strong Trump supporters. Some were traveling from other states for the Cornhusker State visit, as the president is in a midterm campaign blitz. Nebraska has a few races that are viewed as competitive, including the Senate and 2nd Congressional District races. 

Doris, who didn’t want to give her last name, said she traveled from Omaha to the Trump rally because she loves America and wants to keep it free. 

“Freedom in America is very important to me, and Trump is all about America,”  Doris told the Examiner. “It’s so invigorating to be with these same kind of people that have the same beliefs … and trust in Trump.”

Chea Polonia, an Omaha resident, said she helped make calls to elect Trump in 2016 because she didn’t want to vote for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. A former Democrat, she said she voted for Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024.

“It wasn’t about him, and then the day of the (2016) election, I was there, and he won, and we didn’t think he’d win,” Polonia said. “Everybody hated him — the media, the people — and it was so — honest, it was so spiritual, it changed my life.”

Polonia wore a hat referring to Trump as “bullet proof” and  a necklace with Trump’s signature line, “Make America Great Again.” On her hip, as well as hanging off her neck, were keychains she created resembling the president, which she calls “Pocket POTUS.”

The audience was very friendly to Trump and the other Republican elected officials on stage. Nebraska 3rd Congressional District Rep. Adrian Smith led a “Go Big Red” chant. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen got loud applause when he said, “Boys are boys and girls are girls … over my dead body that any boys are going to play sports against my granddaughter in Nebraska.” 

Nebraska Sen. Pete Ricketts’ walk-on song was “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC, and he started his speech by saying, “D.C. Democrats have lost their minds.” 

Trump said the audience at Pinnacle Bank Expo Center was part of the “greatest political movement in the history” of the U.S.

The crowd chanted “four more years” during the rally.

Outside the venue, there was Trump merchandise ranging from hats, figures, stuffed animals and jackets. Vendors would walk up and down the line with carts filled with hats, yelling that if people didn’t buy a hat, they could be mistaken for a Democrat. 

Susie Wilkinson, a Kearney resident, said she was excited to be in the same room as the president. Wilkinson, who has been a Trump supporter since 2016, said Trump is doing a good job during this second term.

Marlene Nabel, who lives in Garfield, Kansas, said Trump is the best president and is fighting to make the country great again. 

“We need everybody to get out and vote, so socialism doesn’t take over our country,” Nabel said. “I’ve never been so involved in politics as I am now that I’ve got grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and I’m fighting for them. … I will fight with Donald Trump to make this country great.” 

Nabel said she used to be a Democrat around a decade ago when Trump was first running for office, but after watching how the news media treated him and how the Democrats – she called them “hateful” — were handling the country, she switched parties. 

The general election is Nov. 3. Early voting has already started.

Examiner Reporter Zach Wendling contributed to this report.