‘America first’: Pro-Trump rally mobilizes at National Mall

Dozens of rally goers turned out in front of Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of American History, cheering the president. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Rally goers turned out in front of Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, cheering the president. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
"Trump is for the people," said Moe Delk, who said he is a former gang member from Chicago who now lives and works in Milwaukee. "We're just people who love America. We're about America first.” (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
“Trump is for the people,” said Moe Delk, who said he is a former gang member from Chicago who now lives and works in Milwaukee. “We’re just people who love America. We’re about America first.” (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
The rally included a float driven to the center of the National Mall, festooned with patriotic symbols, bearing “Trump” in giant, capital letters. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
The rally included a float driven to the center of the National Mall, festooned with patriotic symbols, bearing “Trump” in giant, capital letters. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Police used snowblade-equipped dump trucks to block off Constitution Avenue Northwest and other streets to accommodate the Trump rally and two other events -- Fiesta DC's parade and a rally at the Lincoln Memorial by ardent fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Police used snowblade-equipped dump trucks to block off Constitution Avenue Northwest and other streets to accommodate the Trump rally and two other events — Fiesta DC’s parade and a rally at the Lincoln Memorial by ardent fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
During the rally on Saturday, many of the president's supporters cheered him, even despite his recent initiatives with Democratic congressional leaders. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
During the rally on Saturday, many of the president’s supporters cheered him, even despite his recent initiatives with Democratic congressional leaders. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Lisa Sprenkel and her friends unfurled the American flag at the pro-Trump rally. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Lisa Sprenkel and her friends unfurled the American flag at the pro-Trump rally. Sprenkel said she loved the president “from day one.” She added, “I want to see our country succeed, I want to see jobs come back, I want to see our infrastructure rebuilt.” (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
A view of the National Mall Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, during the rally. (Courtesy EarthCam)
A view of the National Mall Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, during the rally. (Courtesy EarthCam)
A view of the National Mall Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, during the rally. (Courtesy EarthCam)
A view of the National Mall Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, during the rally. (Courtesy EarthCam)
A view of the National Mall Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, during the rally. (Courtesy EarthCam)
A view of the National Mall Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, during the rally. (Courtesy EarthCam)
A view of the National Mall Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, during the rally. (Courtesy EarthCam)
A view of the National Mall Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, during the rally. (Courtesy EarthCam)
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Dozens of rally goers turned out in front of Smithsonian Institute's National Museum of American History, cheering the president. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
"Trump is for the people," said Moe Delk, who said he is a former gang member from Chicago who now lives and works in Milwaukee. "We're just people who love America. We're about America first.” (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
The rally included a float driven to the center of the National Mall, festooned with patriotic symbols, bearing “Trump” in giant, capital letters. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Police used snowblade-equipped dump trucks to block off Constitution Avenue Northwest and other streets to accommodate the Trump rally and two other events -- Fiesta DC's parade and a rally at the Lincoln Memorial by ardent fans of the band Insane Clown Posse. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
During the rally on Saturday, many of the president's supporters cheered him, even despite his recent initiatives with Democratic congressional leaders. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
Lisa Sprenkel and her friends unfurled the American flag at the pro-Trump rally. (WTOP/Dick Uliano)
A view of the National Mall Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, during the rally. (Courtesy EarthCam)
A view of the National Mall Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, during the rally. (Courtesy EarthCam)
A view of the National Mall Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, during the rally. (Courtesy EarthCam)
A view of the National Mall Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, during the rally. (Courtesy EarthCam)

WASHINGTON — Amid extraordinary security, a small group of President Donald Trump supporters gathered on the National Mall in a rally laced with patriotism, religion and Trump campaign cries from the stage, including “Drain the Swamp.”

Dozens of rally-goers, some of them dressed in red, white and blue, turned out in front of Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, cheering the president, including his recent initiatives with Democratic congressional leaders.

Ben Pettit, from Orlando, Florida, was at the rally and said he approved of the president’s recent negotiations with Democrats.

“If the Republicans don’t want to get onboard and get done what he pledged to get done, then he has to find another way,” Pettit said.

The rally included a float driven to the center of the National Mall, festooned with patriotic symbols, bearing “Trump” in giant, capital letters.

“I loved the president from day one, from when he first came down that elevator. I love that fact that he’s blunt because I’m blunt,” said Lisa Sprenkel who traveled from Sunbury, Pennsylvania, for the rally. “I want to see our country succeed, I want to see jobs come back, I want to see our infrastructure rebuilt.”

Police used snowblade-equipped dump trucks to block off Constitution Avenue Northwest and other streets to accommodate the Trump rally and two other events — Fiesta DC’s parade and a rally at the Lincoln Memorial by ardent fans of the band Insane Clown Posse.

“Trump is for the people,” said Moe Delk, who said he is a former gang member from Chicago who now lives and works in Milwaukee.

“We are not white supremacists; you know what I’m saying? We’re not a hate group; you know what I’m saying? We’re just people who love America. We’re about America first.”

Dick Uliano

Whether anchoring the news inside the Glass-Enclosed Nerve Center or reporting from the scene in Maryland, Virginia or the District, Dick Uliano is always looking for the stories that really impact people's lives.

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