Police report that the small South Carolina town chosen by 45th President Donald Trump to host a campaign rally was swarmed with 50,000 of the president’s supporters, more than 10 times the usual 5,000 residents of the community.
Photos posted online – both by supporters and Trump campaign officials – showed a massive crowd at Trump’s rally held on July 1 in Pickens, South Carolina, which the U.S. Census estimates to normally house approximately 3,388 people.
Pickens, South Carolina, Trump Rally Photo Blitz #6 👀 pic.twitter.com/QGzrb0PpN7
— Jason Miller (@JasonMillerinDC) July 2, 2023
Twitter might have crashed today because everybody wanted updates and videos from President Trump’s rally in Pickens, SC. 😬 pic.twitter.com/lP5PahpD19
— Steven Cheung (@TheStevenCheung) July 2, 2023
"Reports suggest 75,000 people will be here by the time President Trump speaks." Every Trump supporter in South Carolina showed up in Pickens.
Unbelievable support for 45.pic.twitter.com/EHAm7m7NHd
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) July 1, 2023
Newsweek reports that “50,000 Trump supporters are believed to have gathered” in the northwestern South Carolina town to see Trump and Pickens County Police Chief Randall Beach estimated “tens of thousands” descended on the town.
“No way it was less than 50,000,” Beach reportedly told the Spartanburg Herald-Journal.
“I know the venue was full and that there were long lines to get in, but our office was tasked with providing event security so I am not aware [of] what the official number was,” added Chief Deputy Chuck James speaking to Newsweek. “As for arrests, there were zero event-related arrests.”
Trump has asserted that 75,000 people descended on the town to see him in a post on Truth Social, and his campaign surrogates have claimed that 20,000 or more packed the venue by time the candidate took the stage.
“Over 75,000 people came to our incredible Rally yesterday in South Carolina, despite an almost 100 degree temperature,” wrote Trump on Truth Social. “It was amazing, THE PEOPLE WERE GREAT. Thank you Pickens!!!”
While the event was considered a universal success for Trump, Pickens County Emergency Services Board chairman Kenny McPeters told Newsweek that about 50 people, mostly elderly, needed medical treatment due to the 90-degree temperatures.
Due to the swarm of Trump supporters descending on the small town, first responders were forced to become creative in how they provided treatment.
“Besides the church, we were using our cars, stairwells at the courthouse, and police department,” said McPeters.
