Trump is holding a rally in Philadelphia on Saturday. Here’s what to know.
It's the first time Trump has held a rally in Philadelphia, and comes less than a week ahead of the first presidential debate against President Joe Biden.
Donald Trump is coming to Philadelphia Saturday for a rally at Temple University, a first for the former president who famously said “bad things happen” here.
The rally comes less than a week ahead of the first presidential debate of the 2024 election, which takes place Thursday in Atlanta. It will be the first time appearing on a debate stage since 2020 for both Trump and President Joe Biden, since Biden didn’t face a serious challenge during the Democratic primary and Trump skipped the debates held during the Republican primary.
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Trump is likely the first Republican presidential candidate to hold a campaign rally on Temple’s campus, an area where he struggled to gain support during his previous two presidential runs. In 2020, Trump received just 5% of the vote in precincts within a half-mile radius of Temple University’s main campus, according to an Inquirer analysis of election data.
This isn’t Trump’s first visit to Philadelphia this election cycle. In February the former president made a brief appearance at Sneaker Con at the Philadelphia Convention Center, where he was booed while unveiling a pair of gold sneakers priced at $400. He also appeared at a beach rally in Wildwood, last month, where he falsely claimed there were riots at his alma mater the University of Pennsylvania and criticized Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner.
Here’s what we know about Trump’s rally in Philadelphia on Saturday:
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Where in Philadelphia is the Trump rally?
Trump’s rally is being held at The Liacouras Center on Temple’s campus in North Philadelphia.
The 10,206-seat venue, which opened in 1997, hosts Temple basketball games and other events. It was originally named “The Apollo of Temple” but was renamed in 2000 to honor Temple President Peter Liacouras prior to his retirement.
What time does the rally start?
Doors are scheduled to open at 3 p.m., and Trump is expected to begin delivering his remarks at 7 p.m.
It’s unclear how long the rally will last. Last month in Wildwood, Trump was late to the stage and spoke for more than 90 minutes
At a rally in Racine, Wisc. earlier this week, Trump spoke for about 80 minutes.
How can people attend?
Tickets are available on Trump’s campaign website on a first-come, first-served basis.
The rally is free, but attendees must register using their cell phone number and are limited to two tickets.
It’s unclear how large the crowd will be, Temple Vice President for Public Safety Jennifer Griffin told The Inquirer.
If you’re driving, the Liacouras Center has an interactive map with door-to-door directions from your location. There is also a list of parking garages near the arena.
If you’re taking SEPTA, the Liacouras Center is just a two-minute walk from the Cecil B. Moore Station on the Broad Street line. It’s also a short walk from the Temple University Station at 10th and Berks Streets, if you take Regional Rail.
How can I watch or stream Trump’s Philly rally?
Trump’s rally will stream live on C-Span beginning at 7 p.m. It is also available here to stream, via The Independent:
Fox News will air a portion of the rally during the 7 p.m. hour, and will stream it in its entirety on its website.
What roads will be shut down?
There will be rolling closures of I-95 and I- 676 when Trump is moving to and from North Philadelphia, police said.
The Temple University Police Department says to expect detours on Broad Street between Cecil B. Moore Avenue and Norris Street until around 10 p.m. Saturday.
Streets including parts of North Broad Street, West Montgomery Avenue, and Cecil B. Moore may also be subject to temporary closures.
Will there be protests?
The Pennsylvania Democratic Party is hosting a protest at 5 p.m. on Saturday in conjunction with other local groups.
State Sen. Sharif Street (D., Philadelphia) told The Inquirer he expects the participation of activists from Philadelphia Young Democrats and organized labor unions as well as clergy and elected officials — a “whole lot of folks,” he said.
The national Democratic Party is plastering the area with billboards, pro-Biden kiosks, and a mobile billboard that will drive around the campus highlighting Trump’s relationship with Black Americans.
North Philly leaders, including State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta (D., Philadelphia) and City Councilmember Isaiah Thomas, plan to speak against Trump at a 10 a.m. news conference.
» READ MORE: These are the protests lined up for Trump’s rally at Temple