‘Obsessed’ in sea of red

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This article was published 26/06/2018 (2376 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FARGO, N.D. — In a sea of red, and in the midst of a trade war, a lone Winnipegger stands near the front of the line in the sweltering heat, waiting to see U.S. President Donald Trump.

A long, zigzag line of thousands of Trump supporters hoping to get into an evening rally pass the time, many while seated in folding camping chairs, in a parking lot at Scheels Arena in Fargo, N.D.

Many are wearing red “Make America Great Again” hats and T-shirts. They break out into chants such as “Build the wall” and “Red wave” that resonate with many Americans but fewer of Zackery Stevens’ fellow Canadians.

The 22-year-old, who attends law school at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and hopes to work in the U.S. someday, drove to Fargo from Winnipeg alone and got in line at about 3 a.m. Wednesday.

“I’m obsessed with Donald Trump,” said Stevens, who flew to Cincinnati and Florida to attend Trump rallies during the 2016 election. “I love the way he talks and how we just stands up for what he believes in.”

As the time to enter the arena approached, Stevens said he’d been awake for about 36 hours. “I’m just on adrenaline… but that’s fine. It’s worth it.”

When he arrived at the arena, about 20 other people were there. Instead of a red MAGA hat, he wore a different blue hat and a shirt covered in different images of Trump’s face.

“You can never have enough Trump. There’s not many occasions that I can pull this off, hence why I’m dying in this heat with it,” he said. “I feel like I’m bathing in my own sweat, but it’s worth it. That hour to get to see him is just unreal.”

Stevens doesn’t support efforts to boycott American products over tariffs on steel and aluminum Trump imposed on Canada this month. His administration later harshly insulted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau after the G7 summit in Quebec.

“Boycotts are annoying. I don’t like boycotts,” Stevens said. “As soon as there’s a boycott or protest, I’m on the other side.”

Stevens said he thinks Trump has a valid reason for imposing tariffs.

“I totally understand where he’s coming from. The U.S. is being ripped off,” he said. “I don’t like Justin Trudeau, but I liked how Trudeau was standing up for Canada a little bit.”

Inside, Trump supporters waited for hours in the 5,000-seat hockey arena, listening to speeches by local Republicans and doing the wave while Sweet Child O’ Mine was blasted out of the speakers. The crowds peered expectantly towards the podium with three enormous U.S. flags behind it and signs saying “Promises made” and “Promises kept.”

The state has plenty to lose in a trade dispute with Canada. The overwhelming majority of its exports go to Canada, and despite a weak Canadian dollar, North Dakota benefits from Manitobans who visit and spend here. But Trump remains popular. Shortly before the doors to the arena opened, only a single protester was at the site, standing at an intersection and holding a sign saying he’s pro-American but anti-Trump, and “racism ain’t patriotism.”

As he took the stage shortly after 7:05 p.m., Trump pointed out the size of the capacity crowd.

“The only thing more packed is outside,” he said, referring to the many who waited in line but failed to get in.

Speaking for more than one hour, 10 minutes, he stuck to many of his favourite topics and targets but didn’t mention Canada until late.

“Canadian wheat markets consistently discriminate against the United States’ wheat by grading it as feed,” he said. “Do you know what that means? They know what it means,” he said, gesturing to unseen staff members. “I don’t know what the hell it means. I just know it’s a bad deal.”

He then criticized Canadian quotas on dairy he said hurt U.S. farmers. He used a mocking tone as he told the crowd how Trudeau, whom he referred to as “Justin,” tried to appeal to their two countries’ long history as allies, fighting together in both world wars.

“We love Canada, but they’re taking advantage of us,” he said. “We can’t let that happen. We can’t let it happen. The era of global freeloading and taking advantage of the United States is over, it’s just over.”

Trump was in Fargo to support GOP Rep. Kevin Cramer, who is seeking to defeat first-term Democratic U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp in the deeply Republican state in the November midterm elections. Political junkies will be watching North Dakota and its relatively tiny population.

“The Red River Valley could decide who is in control of the United States Senate, so I think all eyes are going to be on North Dakota the entire election cycle,” GOP candidate Kelly Armstrong said while taking a break from shaking hands with supporters outside the arena Wednesday afternoon. He’s running to replace Cramer as the state’s lone member of the House of Representatives.

Before Trump’s speech, not far from where the protester stood, a family parked their vehicle and hurried to join the lineup, perhaps in vain.

“It may be a long, hot afternoon, but this is kind of history,” he told his daughter as they walked to join the queue.

adam.treusch@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @adamtreusch