BOZEMAN, Mont. — Just a few hours away from Wyoming’s northern border, supporters and fans of former President Donald Trump were in full Maga-mania mode Friday afternoon as they waited to rally for the man they believe will “Make America Great Again."
Trump flags and signs were posted around town and on vehicles even as the former president had an unscheduled stop on the way to Bozeman when his plane had to land in Billings instead because of a mechanical failure, the Billings Airport reports.
From there, he took a private plane to the Bozeman area. U.S. Secret Service had to do a complete sweep of the airport here before that could happen.
About three hours before Trump was set to hit the stage, a few thousand people were already standing in line outside the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on the Montana State University campus.
People On The Street
A number of Trump supporters coalesced around a vendor hawking various Trump gear Friday afternoon.
One of these people was Bozeman resident Ray Ellman, who proclaimed that “Donald’s a hell of a lot better than Biden.”
Fellow Bozeman resident Dakota Penrod said the biggest reason he’s voting for Trump is his escape from near death. At a July 13 campaign rally, a bullet grazed Trump’s ear, just millimeters away from killing him.
“That man got shot and he’s still running, bro,” Penrod said enthusiastically.
Penrod said he also believes Trump did a better job managing the economy and the Southern border while in office.
Alex Spencer is a homeless resident of Bozeman who cruised by the Trump pop-up shop Friday.
Spencer said Trump is the only president to have taken action that personally impacted him, mentioning the COVID-19 stimulus money he approved during the early part of the pandemic. Spencer is crippled and can barely walk, relying on his bike for transportation.
“That helped a lot,” he said.
Thousands of people gathered outside the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in preparation of the Trump rally on Friday. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
The crowd stands for the national anthem on Friday. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
A vendor from South Carolina travels the country selling Trump apparel. He goes by Black Trump Supporter. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
John (left) and Bernice Eagleson traveled out from eastern Washington for the rally. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
An Oklahoma truck showcases a Trump flag on Friday afternoon. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) Thousands of people gathered outside the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse in preparation of the Trump rally on Friday. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
There were many Trump flags flying around the city of Bozeman on Friday. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily) 
Trump gear was easy to find on the streets of Bozeman on Friday. (Leo Wolfson, Cowboy State Daily)
Trump Tourists
John and Eagleson and his wife Bernice drove from eastern Washington to see Trump in person.
Although Eagleson didn’t expect anything more than a standard Trump speech, he said they still wanted to come and see him in person to feel the adrenaline rush.
“It’s the camaraderie of it all,” he said. “He fires up the people.”
When Trump came to Casper in May 2022, he drew about 10,000 people in the Ford Wyoming Center, with thousands more outside. He was expected to sell out the 8,455-person capacity Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on Friday night.
Eagleson already had a slew of insulting nicknames for Democratic Presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and VP candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz prepared for the rally, referring to them as “horrible Harris” and “tampon Tim.”
Bernice Eagleson is of Navajo Native American heritage. Even though she’s the only Republican in her family, she still stands behind the distinction.
“It’s because he fights for us, he’s a true American,” she said.
The owner of the T-shirt shop, who goes by Black Trump Supporter from South Carolina, said he travels the nation selling Trump-themed goods and paraphernalia. The man said beyond making money, another one of his goals is to defy the stereotype that African Americans only vote for Democrats.
“Everyone in the country is pointing fingers at Black people for electing Joe Biden, and they’re right,” he said. “They’re voting for Democrats with no research done.”
He also believes the stimulus checks Trump offered at the beginning of COVID were him looking out for the Black community and helping watch over a strong economy. Biden issued one more check after taking office, but put out no more after March 2021.
“Under Trump, the government was taking care of us,” he said. “When Biden took office, he said, ‘We gave you too much, you’re going to have to give that all back.’”
Speaking of Democrats, a public rally in support of Harris and Walz was held in Jackson on Friday night, although the presidential nominees did not appear in person.
State Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, was at this rally.
“Folks here are excited to come out for a ticket who believes in freedom, supports local communities, and is honest,” Yin said. “It sure beats a ticket with a convicted felon on it.”
Trump is scheduled to appear at a private event in Jackson on Saturday afternoon.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
