Donald Trump town hall in Fayetteville: Highlights from our live coverage
(This story was updated to add new information, photos and a video.)
Chants of "USA!" broke out as former President Donald Trump took the stage Friday at Fayetteville's Crown Arena to Lee Greenwood's "I'm Proud to be an American."
Trump, the Republican nominee for president, was in Fayetteville for a town hall. He came on stage at 6:45 p.m. and stayed approximately an hour, taking questions from people on stage and in the audience about immigration, the economy and the military.
Read on for more highlights from The Fayetteville Observer's live coverage. Click here to watch the live video of the town hall.
See photos of Trump: PHOTOS: Donald Trump holds town hall at Crown Arena in Fayetteville
Attendees pleased with Trump's appearance | 8:15 p.m.
A few supporters offered their thoughts on Trump's speech as they left the Crown Arena.
Michael Pearson of Wilson said his opinion remains unchanged after hearing Trump speak during the rally and says he is confident Trump will be the next president.
“He’s the best we’ve ever had,” Pearson said. “I feel like if they do (the election) fair, it should be by a landslide.”
Donna Gray of Hope Mills shared Pearson's enthusiasm.
Gray said she was a Democrat until she was 57 years old, but she now recruits people to vote for Trump.“Everything he said we need done and I’m excited,” Gray said. “After tonight, definitely the American people will be behind him and they should anyway.”
Donald Trump arrives | 6:45 p.m.
Chants of "USA!" break out as Trump walks out to Lee Greenwood's "I'm Proud to be an American." Click here to watch the live video of the town hall.
Moderator introduced | 6:44 p.m.
U.S. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican who represents Florida's 13th Congressional District, has taken the stage. She will serve as the moderator of tonight's town hall.
"I'm here today because this happens to be one of the most important elections in U.S. history," Luna said. "I look forward to bringing patriotism back into the White House."
Controversial GOP candidate at the Crown | 6:28 p.m.
Michele Morrow, who is a Republican running for North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction, said she has been coming to Trump rallies for eight years and believes he is the man to move North Carolina and the rest of the country forward.
"I'm here to support him and also to meet like-minded people," Morrow said.
Morrow said Trump's views on education for the country, such as pushing back against critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusion in classrooms, align with her vision for North Carolina.
She also spoke on the violence and dangers inside schools across the country.
"We're losing teachers, we're losing students and it's time for us to make sure our students are safe so they can learn," she said. "We need to make sure that our money is actually going into the classroom, rather than ... all of these special interest groups and pet projects."
Morrow is a controversial figure after she suggested in 2020 tweets that prominent Democratic leaders like President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama should be assassinated.
Packed house at the Arena | 6 p.m.
It appears it will be a full house Friday night at the Crown Arena. Just before 6 p.m., an hour before Trump was set to speak, people in line were being turned away for lack of space. The Crown Arena, which according to the Crown Complex website has 5,000 seats, was about 80% full just before 6 p.m. A worker on site said the arena seats 4,600.
A Vietnam War veteran from Fayetteville who preferred to go by his pseudonym "Rex Havoc" was one of the Trump supporters who made it inside before the cutoff. He said this Trump rally will be his third.“I wanted to put another notch on my boot,” Havoc said.Havoc said issues with the economy have affected him and his family since the pandemic and he hopes Trump can turn things around.“I’m a perfect example that has a son and a daughter who were caught up in this mess with this inflation,” he said. “They’re a perfect example of what they should be concerned about in Washington.”
Elected official, social media personality in the crowd | 5:42 p.m.
Right-wing social media personality “Silk,” whose real name is Herneitha Rochelle Hardaway, was taking photos with fans in the audience.
Trump spoke at the funeral of Hardaway's sister, Ineitha Lynette "Diamond" Hardaway, during his last visit to Fayetteville in January 2023. The sisters, who were from Raeford, were known for their pro-Trump videos on YouTube.
Also in attendance was Nathan Warfel, a Fayetteville lawyer who serves on the Cumberland County Board of Education.
The Crown Arena, which according to the Crown Complex website has 5,000 seats, was about 80% full just before 6 p.m.
Economy is a concern | 5:32 p.m.
Ron and Linda Gurnik, a married couple from Pinehurst, said that Trump’s policies regarding the border and economy are the main reasons for their support.“We were better off a year prior when he was in office,” Linda Gurnik said from inside the Crown Arena.Ron Gurnik said he expects a better outlook for America with Trump as president.“Hopefully the economy comes back,” Ron Gurnik said. “There’s a lot of people who can’t afford anything and hopefully we get this border taken care of.”
Voter commends Trump on Helena response | 5:20 p.m.
Todd Harris arrived from Maxton to hear Trump, who he believes has a great chance of defeating Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris. He commended Trump for his recent visit to mountain communities in western North Carolina that were struck by Tropical Storm Helene.
Trump has not visited Western North Carolina since Helene hit, although he visited a hurricane response center in Evans, Georgia, earlier Friday and criticized the Biden administration's response to Helene during a visit to Valdosta, Georgia, on Monday.
He said he thanks Trump for “supporting us in North Carolina through our storms. We’re not getting support from (Kamala Harris).” Kamala Harris announced earlier Friday that she would visit Western North Carolina on Saturday. President Joe Biden was in the state on Wednesday.
Todd Harris said if Trump wins another four years, he expects him to build a strong economy and continue to show respect for law enforcement.
“He’s gonna do what he’s done for us before,” Harris said.
Medical personnel assist a woman | 4:50 p.m.
A woman in line was given a seat and some water as medical personnel spoke with her. She was not taken from the scene.
Others waiting to get inside the arena included Channing Perdue a farmer with land on Cedar Creek Road in Fayetteville.
She said she had been standing in line for two hours.
“I’m interested in what Trump has to say about what he’s going to do for the economy to help farmers,” she said.
She said she liked several things about Trump.
“I like that he’s honest, that he’s a businessman, that he understands the economy and how to get it better,” she said. “I honestly think he’s very genuine.”
Trump team hands out Newsweek editorial | 4:35 p.m.
A media handler inside the Crown Arena was giving out copies to journalists of a Newsweek editorial written by a former British Special Forces soldier that claimed Trump would prevent World War III. "I'm Ex-Special Forces," the headline reads. "We Veterans Back Trump — He'll stop World War III."
Attendees in good spirits | 4:25 p.m.
Despite the long lines, attendees were in good spirits. Some were using paper fans promoting "Michele Morrow: NC Superintendent of Public Instruction" and "Protect Women's Sports." In addition to merchandise vendors, there were food and drink trucks offering things like hibachi, hot dogs, snow cones and lemonade.
Trump has young voter's support | 4:15 p.m.
Attendees started to file inside the arena about 4 p.m. As they entered, Dolly Parton's "9-to-5" played, followed by Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music." In 2018, according to Rolling Stone, Rihanna sent the Trump campaign a cease-and-desist letter after the song was used at a Tennessee Trump rally.
Sebastian Young, 19, of Fayetteville, was with four friends at the rally. He said of all the candidates running, Trump is the one who has his support.
“He gets respect from a lot of people and I think that’s one of the huge things you need as a leader,” Young said. “If no one respects you then you can’t lead.”
Line at the Crown Arena | 3:40 p.m.
Tents with merchandise supporting Trump filled the completely packed parking lot outside of the Crown Arena. Individuals waited in a line that ran through the parking lot for the opportunity to see the former president speak in a few hours.
A staff member said about 4,500 people will be permitted into the event.
A new Trump supporter | 3:32 p.m.
Kenneth Yost, of Fayetteville, said he recently became a Trump supporter.“I was a libertarian all the way,” Yost said. “With way things have gone the past four years, I can’t… between the two choices that we have, I can’t go the other way.”
Democrats respond: Local Democratic leaders slam Trump agenda ahead of Fayetteville campaign stop
Attendee brings pro-life message to Fayetteville | 3:15 p.m.
One Trump supporter showed up to the town hall in an RV covered in pro-life messages, such as "choose adoption" and "vote pro life."
Michelle Daniels, of Pilot Mountain, said she’s always had pro-life views and has been traveling the country in the RV for two years.“When you take God out of anything, you see what’s happening in our country,” Daniels said. “God said that it’s a baby from the time of conception.”