Some drivers honked. Others made rude gestures. But a gathering of Trump supporters in the heart of deep-blue Montgomery County certainly caught people’s attention on Saturday — the same day the former president was appearing at the western Pennsylvania site of July’s assassination attempt.
While Donald Trump appeared in Butler, Pa. at the same venue where a would-be killer’s bullet grazed his head, an enthusiastic group of supporters showed up in Abington to wave Trump signs and American flags, and to boost the candidacies of local Republicans as well.
Abington committeewoman Jamie Maerz said she is for Trump because, “Trump is for strong borders, our country was safe, and we were able to afford our groceries and gas. Ever since the Biden-Harris administration took effect– and you know unelected bureaucrats are running our county behind the scenes—we’ve never been so unsafe. Our military is at its weakest, our country is at the weakest, we’re more divided than ever.”
Gerrie Woodson
Abington Township Republican Organization Chair Joe Rooney was also on hand. Rooney, who is running for state representative for the 153rd District, said he’s been campaigning hard all around Abington, Rockledge, and Upper Dublin to unseat Democratic incumbent Rep. Ben Sanchez.
A Democratic Abington School board member shook his hand recently, telling the Republican, “You are relentless,’” Rooney said. “I’m a Marine, so saying you are relentless is a nice compliment.
“I’ve knocked on thousands of doors, and I’ve been doing this since before the primary. The number one question I get from most people is: ‘Who’s our representative right now?’”
John McAuley, communication director with Black Republicans of Philadelphia, was filming the rally. He said supporting Trump “is just common sense. He already proved he was a good leader.
“I think our community is tired of inflation and high energy. Our schools are horrible. I think they care more about our kids’ genders than educating them properly. Our infrastructure is horrible. Our roads are trash. The Democrats get funding, and they keep the money. It doesn’t take 100 years to change these urban neighborhoods.
“My job is to show my people you have other options,” said McAuley. “You don’t have to go Democrat straight down the line. These conservative values, the nuclear family, these Republican ideologies are what we should be following.”
Joe and Beth Rooney
Pat Smith, a local Abington resident, said she supports Trump because of his policies. “Putting America first, cutting taxes, letting free enterprise thrive, being energy independent…It’s a win-win for everybody. It’s an expanding pie. It’s not just a piece of the pie. Where you cut taxes, more people have money, they can invest, they can grow businesses, there are more jobs, we can export things…There’s not anything negative about this guy. He’s fantastic. He has a proven track record, too.”
Abington committeewoman, Bernadette Wilkinson, said, “My husband is from Ireland. He came over here legally. My grandparents all came from Italy. They came here legally. And $640,000 has been given to the illegals, and there is no money left from FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to give to the poor people who are affected by Hurricane Helene. They’re destitute. It’s not right, and that bothers me.”
Philadelphia resident Gerrie Woodson said inflation under Biden-Harris is a reason to support Trump.
“He’s a man of humanity, and he cares for the American people. He wants it to be like it once was. Things are bad now,” said Woodson.
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