UCF – Thousands attended Donald Trump’s Saturday rally, but how could so many of these college students possibly be pumped for Trump? March 5 was not an overlooked day for those who had printed out their free tickets to see the presidential candidate talk campaigning.
Lines to enter the event wrapped buildings like vines hours before the speaker’s arrival as the crowd of thirty-thousand was escorted into the University of Central Florida’s CFE arena and, after filling every seat, occupied what seemed to be every square foot of the venue, some standing for up to 4 hours before the curtain rose.
Given the content of Trump’s unabashed message and highly criticized ethics, candidly calling some opposed to his regime “disgusting” in this latest speech, his name is often preceded by words like “dump,” phrases such as “anyone but,” and followed by laughter in most conversations. So as confusing as how followers of candidate Bernie Sanders have backed him vehemently with every form of support besides voting, people are now asking questions about why the same demographic made up the vast majority of those who bent the bleachers last Saturday.
Thiemo Belote, a freshman at Valencia who made the drive to see Trump live, gave some his reasons for performing what logistically should have been a waste of time gas on his part.
“I don’t support Trump, I’m not voting for that guy,” Belote said, grinning. “If I was going to vote for anyone, it would be Bernie, but only because voting for anybody else would feel wrong now that I know what he’s about.”
At times, when questions are answered, they prompt more. He explained that while Bernie had good policies, he was nothing but good policies, nothing but that and sheer optimism.
“He’s probably going to win,” he continued, referring to Trump, “but wouldn’t it have been cool to say that you got to see Hitler speak before he came to power? He’s a fascist, but at least we’re going to be on his side, right?”
There’s little telling anyone about how the election cycle is bound to proceed, but here is seen a college student holding on tight and acting in a way that exhibits pure, realistic survival traits. A floating leaf in a river pocked with stationary and steadily eroding rocks, his politically decided friends and neighbors. He was asked once more about his plans for voting.
“It would be Bernie, but I might be feeling tired that day and I can’t lose if I don’t play.”
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