NORFOLK, Va. — Former President Donald Trump touched down in Chesapeake for an event Friday afternoon as his campaign seeks to make Virginia competitive in the 2024 presidential election.
The Republican presidential candidate's event took place at Historic Greenbrier Farms at 3 p.m. It's his first event after the first presidential debate of the 2024 election season on Thursday night.
Follow 13News Now's live coverage as we follow traffic impacts, the event itself, the political impacts of the event and more.
6:00 p.m. — Rally comes to an end, Trump cancels interview
After speaking for about 90 minutes, Trump left the stage at Historic Greenbrier Farms.
Much of what Trump had to say fell on a phrase spoken throughout the day: "strength vs weakness".
"As every American saw firsthand last night, this election is a choice between strength and weakness, competence and incompetence, peace and prosperity, or war or no war," Trump declared.
Trump's theme was everything he's done is great and everything Biden does as president is the worst.
He started with personal attacks on President Biden saying he's “looking to destroy America”, called him the most corrupt president in history, and actually called the Democrats the party of “evil”.
The attacks then went beyond President Biden, at one point attacking the “fake news media”. He made sweeping attacks against Democrats in general, from California Governor Gavin Newsome to Michelle Obama.
He also applauded his recent indictments and guilty verdicts.
It was a winding speech, meandering back and forth on a lot of different talking points and policies.
After the rally, 13News Now's military reporter Mike Gooding was scheduled to interview Trump, but his campaign team canceled the interview after asking Gooding what his questions would be, and telling him there was no more time and Trump only wanted to talk about the debate.
3:55 p.m. — Former President Trump takes the stage
Former President Trump is on stage speaking to a crowd of his supporters. Watch his speech:
2:20 p.m. — Virginia governors past and present take the stage
So far, the crowd has heard from former Virginia Gov. George Allen and current Gov. Glenn Youngkin.
Allen served as Virginia's governor from 1994 to 1998, then in the U.S. Senate from 2001 to 2007. Youngkin has been in office since 2022.
2 p.m. — Still no word on Smasal's absence from Virginia Dems presser
13News Now reached out to Missy Cotter Smasal, the Democratic U.S. House nominee in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, who backed out of the Virginia Democrats' 10 a.m. press conference before Trump's event. We still haven't heard back from her campaign.
Around 1:30 p.m., Smasal shared an X post thanking the Democratic Business Alliance for an event they hosted Friday morning.
According to the Democratic Business Alliance of South Hampton Roads' website, the "DemBiz Breakfast" event started at 7:30 a.m. at a hotel near Norfolk International Airport.
It's unclear if this event's timing conflicted with the Virginia Democrats' press conference.
1:30 p.m. — Meanwhile, in North Carolina
Biden is holding a campaign rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, about three hours away from where Trump's Chesapeake event will be.
12:50 p.m. — Crowds continue to build as rally's start gets closer
Thousands of Trump supporters have taken to Historic Greenbrier Farms with just a couple of hours left until the former president's rally begins.
11:50 a.m. — Democrats slam Trump's Chesapeake visit, brand him as anti-veteran
Ahead of former President Donald Trump’s arrival in Chesapeake, Virginia Democrats and veterans shared a message: Trump is not welcome.
Democratic leadership in Virginia and two veterans spoke during a presser Friday morning and didn't mince words when it came to their feelings on the former president and his visit.
Democratic Party of Virginia Chair Susan Swecker said former President Donald Trump should apologize for allegedly calling veterans “suckers” and “losers.”
She also called out Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin for standing by Trump after some of his comments about the military.
Retired Air Force Colonel Sean Monterio called Trump’s visit to Chesapeake offensive and calls President Joe Biden the obvious choice for the White House.
"Let me be very clear, Trump is not welcome here in one of the most military-friendly areas of the country," Monterio said. "Trump is not welcome to serve as the commander in chief of all the armed forces of the United States ever again. Everything he says goes against my values as a veteran."
11 a.m. — Democratic U.S. House nominee in VA-02 backs out of anti-Trump presser
Missy Cotter Smasal, the Democratic U.S. House nominee in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District, backed out of the Virginia Democrats' 10 a.m. press conference prior to the Trump event.
She was slated to appear with Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) Chair Susan Swecker and Chair of the DNC Veterans and Military Families Council and Army veteran Terron Sims.
It's unclear why she backed out, but 13News Now has reached out to her campaign for more information. According to a DNC press release, the three were going to "call out Donald Trump for his long record of disrespecting Americans in uniform."
Smasal is facing Republican U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, who is seeking a second term in the competitive Hampton Roads-centric district that includes Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk and Franklin, along with Southampton, Isle of Wight, Northampton and Accomack Counties.
The 2024 House election in Virginia's 2nd District is expected to be hotly contested, considering the close result of the 2022 election and the district's history of changing hands between Democrats and Republicans. Kiggans, who was a Virginia state senator, defeated the two-term Democratic incumbent Elaine Luria 51% to 48%.
10:45 a.m. — DNC runs mobile billboard criticizing Trump's alleged comments on war dead
The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is running a mobile billboard outside the event criticizing the former president's alleged comments on U.S. military members who have been captured or killed as “losers” and “suckers.”
"Try as he might, Democrats won’t allow Trump to run away from his heinous record, " the DNC wrote in a news release. "As Donald Trump arrives in Chesapeake, Virginia today, the DNC will circle Trump’s event with a mobile billboard highlighting his consistent disrespect and scorn toward America’s soldiers and veterans."
The video is available on YouTube.
9:47 a.m. — Thousands outside waiting for Trump event
9:20 a.m. — Crowds lining up in Chesapeake
8:40 a.m. — Stage is set for Trump rally
13News Now's Alex Littlehales is at the site of the Trump rally in Chesapeake. Here's a look at where it will take place.
8:25 a.m. — Virginia Dems to hold military veterans press conference before rally
Virginia Democrats are holding a press conference with military veterans ahead of former Republican President Donald Trump's rally in Chesapeake Friday.
The press conference starts at 10 a.m. and will feature Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA) Chair Susan Swecker; Democratic U.S. House candidate for Virginia's 2nd District and Navy veteran Missy Cotter Smasal; and Chair of the DNC Veterans and Military Families Council and Army veteran Terron Sims.
"Ahead of Donald Trump’s visit to the Hampton Roads area, home to nearly 120,000 active duty military members and 220,000 veterans, the speakers will call out Donald Trump for his long record of disrespecting Americans in uniform, including referring to those killed in service as 'suckers' and 'losers,'" the DPVA said in a press release, referring to alleged comments made by the former president.
8:15 a.m. — 'Virginia's in play,' Gov. Glenn Youngkin says hours before Trump rally
During a Friday morning appearance on Fox News, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin expressed excitement for Trump's visit to his state.
The Republican governor recently met with Trump, confirming to 13News Now that the two discussed strategy for winning Virginia. Virginia has long swung between Republican and Democrat, but the state hasn't gone for a GOP presidential candidate since the 2004 election.
Youngkin said Trump's visit to Chesapeake indicates that "Virginia's in play," even though Biden won the state by 10 points in the 2020 presidential election.
"I'm so happy he's coming," Youngkin told Fox News, adding that his visit to the Commonwealth is noteworthy since it's a day after the first 2024 presidential debate.
Youngkin also took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share his thoughts on the debate, in which the Democratic president had a shaky performance against Trump.
"Could it be any clearer? Strength versus weakness," Youngkin wrote. "That's why Virginia is in play. See you in Chesapeake tomorrow, Mr. President!"
6 a.m. — How Trump's Chesapeake visit is expected to cause traffic issues Friday
Chesapeake’s Director of Public Communication Heath Covey told 13News Now up to 10,000 people could attend.
“We know that there is going to be a tremendous amount of traffic and congestion throughout the day on Friday," Covey said.
Covey said city staff are helping the Secret Service prepare for Trump's visit. He said police officers, firefighters and sheriff's deputies will be all hands on deck. There will also be medical support on site.