Didn’t make it to the Donald Trump rally yesterday in Sacramento, but want to feel like you did?
Be careful what you wish for.
SN&R contributors Blake Gillespie (who already has his recap here), Dave Kempa and myself fought the traffic, the heat and our pesky commitment to reality on our way to a sun-bleached area of the Sacramento International Airport for the presumptive Republican nominee’s pompous and circumstantial visit.
Amid the crowds, the protests and the swag, we stood shoulder to shoulder with dozens of other “scum” journalists to see what happens when The Donald deigns to visit your town.
Hint: It’s kind of like This Is Spinal Tap played as tragedy.
Here’s most of our running Twitter commentary of yesterday’s rally. (You can also find a more media-inclusive live blog at this Storify link.)
Me arriving at the Trump rally: pic.twitter.com/fOGR3MOXN4
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
4 hrs til @realDonaldTrump rally at @SacIntlAirport: vendors out, @sacsheriff deputies strategize, contraband-sniffing dog pisses on tree.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
From your lips to “The Donald’s” ears. It’s hot out here! https://t.co/HUAdQN274Y
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
Demographically, crowd is what I expected for @realDonaldTrump rally: lots of middle age white ppl wearing red/white/blue outfits.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
N.W.A.'s “Express Yourself” piping thru my earbuds both fitting and undercutting what I’m witnessing here at @realDonaldTrump rally.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
And now @TheClash’ “Clampdown”? Music gods are feeling cheeky right now. @realDonaldTrump @SacIntlAirport
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
@RachelLeibrock en route. Will hit the ground running.
— Blake Gillespie (@BusyGillespie) June 1, 2016
Asshole parking at the Trump rally pic.twitter.com/pTtZ2WSjhD
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 1, 2016
Make America Inflatable Again and again and again. pic.twitter.com/XatgorMLKA
— Blake Gillespie (@BusyGillespie) June 1, 2016
@realDonaldTrump lookalike chatting it up w/private security at @SacIntlAirport rally. pic.twitter.com/MtctSCLpQO
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
These two @realDonaldTrump bros were hunting for anti @HillaryClinton mercy at @SacIntlAirport rally. pic.twitter.com/CpU8RSYfe0
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
(Should be “merch.” Autocorrect, am I right?)
Troubadour Craig Moss playing for the @realDonaldTrump rally crowd. pic.twitter.com/v6L9EUW9RT
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
Moss of Tulare County tries sharing about finding his son dead from fentanyl overdose as merch guy tells line to buy @realDonaldTrump tees.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
(Correction: KRAIG Moss, formerly of Tulare County, now in Owego, New York.)
@realDonaldTrump inspired Elk Grove vet Jeff Peck (left) to attend his first ever protest. Nice. pic.twitter.com/ev3b3OQFr2
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
Big applause for appearance of riot squad at @realDonaldTrump rally at @SacIntlAirport. pic.twitter.com/Ld0vVpqx10
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
Private security guy may be first to suffer from heat-related issues out here at @realDonaldTrump rally. It’s h-o-t. pic.twitter.com/YcC7h8rQ5b
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
Man hit his head hard, blood spatter on gravel. Getting treated now.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
I am meeting SO many @realDonaldTrump supporters who identify as “independent media.” Did y’all know traditional media is dead? Time 2 party
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
Does @realDonaldTrump even like his fans? Because many of them are complaining about the risk of heat stroke.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
Preparing for greatness. #TrumpRallySac pic.twitter.com/kokJwLBITR
— Blake Gillespie (@BusyGillespie) June 2, 2016
Mac Worthy sighting at @realDonaldTrump rally. Turns out he and the missus are big Trump fans. Wife considers him the “first Trump.”
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 1, 2016
@kempadimes Not surprising. Hillary is pimping the people!
— Nick Miller (@NickMiller510) June 1, 2016
Super excited for @realDonaldTrump to appear inside @SacIntlAirport. pic.twitter.com/oMp82R8usb
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
It’s gotta be so hot there that everyone is really feeling the burn. https://t.co/Bij7lIiKlA
— Jason Orta (@JasonOrta) June 2, 2016
@TERROREYEStv @DaveDashO fuuuuu
— Blake Gillespie (@BusyGillespie) June 2, 2016
Attn: @springsteen – Donald Trump campaign is playing “Born to Run” at this Sacramento rally.
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
This child thinks I’m scum for covering the Trump rally for a liberal rag. #TrumpInSac https://t.co/Pb92HezqQM pic.twitter.com/3h3IYxFn5x
— Blake Gillespie (@BusyGillespie) June 2, 2016
This goddamn kid pic.twitter.com/p0AS54vIIC
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
Upon closer inspection, @realDonaldTrump mini-me is wearing a wig. #Crushed pic.twitter.com/dXBQjzfnok
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
Sample this shit #TrumpRallySac pic.twitter.com/yyQvjX5hDn
— Blake Gillespie (@BusyGillespie) June 2, 2016
Lured outside by recorded chants of “Donald Trump is a loser.” @realDonaldTrump rally @SacIntlAirport pic.twitter.com/AV42wYbE4f
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
Protester making a salient point about @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/U7lyEzpsaY
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
Protester Jamier Sale being taken away by police, was written notice of trespass pic.twitter.com/VAxJV6XNtb
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
Apparently missing Doug Ose’s warmup speech for @realDonaldTrump. I’m at peace with that.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
Doesn’t look like it, but these guys are actually conversating. @realDonaldTrump rally pic.twitter.com/UDxatjOv9t
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
Trump pins for sale: pic.twitter.com/qHRcBZOiPp
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
Trump/Katehi – dream ticket? pic.twitter.com/7wBJ5oqLRk
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
Super hot at this Trump rally, and the later it goes the more supporters end up in the sun pic.twitter.com/3AhpaDWJLy
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
Trump plane taxis in. “Hell of an entrance,” says @BusyGillespie pic.twitter.com/EQ9qme1VM8
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
You get the point pic.twitter.com/fEnyX1GZp8
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
Average American running for #POTUS pic.twitter.com/zZrD1vaKv2
— Blake Gillespie (@BusyGillespie) June 2, 2016
Would broadcast the shit outta this tacky Trump entrance but the liberal media is taking up all the bandwidth
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
No one but me seems interested in trying to ID the movie score @realDonaldTrump jacked for his intro hero walk. Priorities!
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
THAT’S what that was! https://t.co/6HeSNcJ4jZ
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
Donald entering to a Jock Jams classic. Y’all ready for this?
— Blake Gillespie (@BusyGillespie) June 2, 2016
If @realDonaldTrump had a sense of humor, he would come in on a golden parachute propelled by Aquanet.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
Trump goes after “the press” immediately. “These are bad, bad people.”
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
#FOMOOBCS (fear of missing out on being called scum) https://t.co/Fuq4Ub10dY
— Blake Gillespie (@BusyGillespie) June 2, 2016
@realDonaldTrump complains of long TSA waits to point out government incompetence. I waited 4.5 hours to get into his rally. Just saying.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
Listening to @realDonaldTrump speech is like listening to a guy on coke and quaaludes trying to complete a thought.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
First protester evicted, @realDonaldTrump plays to crowd but says (quieter) “don’t hurt him.”
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
Now the old wall schtick. “And you know who is gonna pay for the wall…”
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
@realDonaldTrump gets crowd to chant build a wall, says Mexico will pay but not w/ “all the drugs they send over here.” What a dick.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
“Look at that,” says Trump, pointing to crowd. “Latinos for Trump! I love you people!”
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
@realDonaldTrump: “A lot of people think I look extremely presidential.” Watching the demagogue up close is a trip.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
No way crowd is that big. Hangar maybe 1/2 full https://t.co/TunQJvHbSK
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
yeah this is incorrect. The hangar was half full with roughly 2500 and even that number feels like an exaggeration. https://t.co/s7GcKHc0hu
— Blake Gillespie (@BusyGillespie) June 2, 2016
@johnmyers yeah and it appeared to be half full.
— Blake Gillespie (@BusyGillespie) June 2, 2016
So odd to read these quotes on reputable news feeds https://t.co/TJ94FwBhvu
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
.@realDonaldTrump lie on Hillary to watch this election: “She wants to abolish the Second Amendment.” Effectively riles enraged base.
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
@realDonaldTrump on running for president not being easy: “I gotta deal with all the scum back there who write bad stuff.” Ahem, meaning us.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
Wave to our adoring fans! https://t.co/ySEkMmIcVM
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
@realDonaldTrump says we’re not all bad. I’m sure some of his best friends are reporters.
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
@realDonaldTrump blames heroin prob on Mexico. “Do walls work? Just ask Israel.” (Yeah, b/c things are so peaceful there!)
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
Crowd chanting “Build the Wall.” Truly chilling. You can feel it in your gut
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
#ChickenTrump now lying to crowd on @BernieSanders debate. Go for it, debate him, @realDonaldTrump.
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
@realDonaldTrump <– this guy is the Jackson Pollock of logic. Shits a lot of colors onto the canvas, sees what sticks. (Apologies to J.P.)
— Raheem F. Hosseini (@raheemfh) June 2, 2016
I can’t even begin to describe what Trump just said. Man sounds like he has dimentia in his final minute
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016
dementia* It was a long, hot day.
— Dave Kempa (@kempadimes) June 2, 2016