Donald Trump Jr. Urges Oxford Supporters To 'Drain The Swamp'

BY JAMES STEINBAUER, EMILY WILLIAMS,
AUDREY DAVIS and CEILI DOYLE
Miami University journalism students

Donald J. Trump Jr. spoke to a packed Brick Street on Monday afternoon, championing the business qualifications of his father, presidential nominee Donald Trump, and echoing the candidate’s calls to abolish career politicians and send a message to Washington.

With the general election only two weeks away and recent polls indicating a tight Ohio race, Trump Jr., the Republican candidate’s most frequent surrogate, assured the audience that his father’s experience in creating jobs and employing an expansive workforce would be a valuable asset in the Oval Office.

“We have an opportunity here to put someone who has actually created real jobs,” he said. “Not someone who talked about it like some magical unicorn that you can just summon and they always appear, but someone who has actually done it.”

'Drain the swamp'

Trump Jr. spoke against career politicians -- including his father's opponent, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton -- which he said is a problem on both sides of the political aisle.

“We have the chance to actually drain the swamp. We do,” Trump Jr. said to chants from the crowd. “It’s time. It really, it is time to get rid of these career politicians. They haven’t given us anything, they haven’t been held accountable, they haven’t done anything. Other than create a mess.”

Trump Jr. was invited to speak by the Butler County Republican Party, the Butler County Trump Campaign and the owner of Brick Street, said Ann Becker, the State Central Committeewoman for Butler County.

His 2:30 p.m. speech ran about eight minutes — and did not address his father’s denigrating comments toward Hispanic and other minority citizens or the 11 sexual assault allegations against his father.

Long line by 1 p.m.

Students and community members were already lined up by 1 p.m. under Brick Street’s red marquee. Doors opened shortly before 1:30 p.m. Admission to the event was free and open to all, but attendees were asked to show a photo ID before entering and were not permitted to bring large bags or backpacks into the venue.

Student volunteers passed out campaign posters supporting the Donald Trump/Mike Pence ticket. The railing of Sky Box, the bar’s upper level, was draped with American flags, Trump campaign signs, and red, white and blue bunting.

Some students bought draft beers and Trashcans before crowding around the Brick Street stage to hear Trump Jr. speak.

While some supporters came wearing the candidate’s signature “Make America Great Again” red baseball caps or sporting “Hillary for Prison” buttons – reflecting Trump’s allegations that his opponent deserves criminal prosecution -- most attendees did not wear Trump apparel to the event.

Hockey jersey donation

After his speech, Trump Jr. donned a Miami RedHawks ice hockey jersey with “Trump 16” embroidered on the back. He also signed Trump campaign posters and posed for photos with students and community members.

Sophomore Gianna Dell’Arni was one of many students who crowded around the Brick Street stage for a poster autograph.

Dell’Arni said she is confident Trump will win the election if he continues to reach out to young voters and offer more specifics about what he would accomplish as president.

“I’m a Trump supporter because I think that people need to understand that there’s a lot of corruption going on in politics,” Dell’Arni said. “Trump doesn’t need this job, and he’s doing this for the American people.”

'People not happy'

Bill Roe, 68, a resident of Butler County and 1970 Miami graduate, said Trump’s success is a sign that America wants change.

“It’s twofold. One, I’m against the principles that Hillary has,” Roe said. “And the other thing is that there’s a pretty good consensus that in our country most people are not happy with how things are going. So let’s try to do something different from the same thing, year after year.”

Michael Evans, 64, studied literature and history at Miami, graduating in 1974. Although Evans will be casting his ballot for Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson, he was interested in hearing what Trump Jr. had to say.

“As far as I’m concerned, the millennials will determine this election -- who they vote for, how many come out,” Evans said. “If they sit this one out, it’s possible Trump could win.”

Evans, who grew up in West Virginia, said he understands why Trump appeals to many Ohio voters.

“Coming from West Virginia and being here in Ohio, there’s no jobs, so I can see why Trump is popular here,” Evans said. “These two parties have never done anything for these people, except ask for their vote.”

100 protesters on hand

As Trump Jr. spoke, around 100 protesters stood outside and chanted messages about Trump’s controversial comments about women and minorities. Protesters carried "Love Trumps Hate" signs and homemade anti-Trump posters while shouting phrases like "Black Lives Matter" and "dump Trump."

Earlier in the day, a small group of protesters gathered outside of the Phi Delt gates on Miami’s campus. Among them was sophomore Sarah Fenno, with a homemade sign that read, “Make America nasty again” on one side and “Jesus was non-Christian, Middle Eastern, a refugee, provided free health care, supported women. Be the guy you worship” on the other.

Outside of Brick Street, officers from the Oxford Police Department and Butler County Sheriff Department stood at High and Poplar streets to monitor the event.

A group of international students from China paused to look at the protestors.

“It’s not very suitable for me to comment,” sophomore Yifu Zhang said. “But I don’t think you guys should let Trump be the president. That’s a disaster, totally.”

'Scared white people'

Quinton Couch and Rukaya Abdallah, Miami seniors, carried anti-Trump signs. Couch’s sign read “Whites only” and was covered in blood-red paint with an arrow he pointed toward Brick Street and Abdallah’s read “Pussy Grabs Back.” Both alluded to controversial Trump statements.

“For me, I think the real reason behind the rise of Trump is not this idea that people are living on the fringes of the American economy as much as it is this idea of shifting demographics in the United States,” Couch said. “It’s a lot of scared white people in my opinion.”

In the Brick Street line, the majority of people donned Trump pins and “Make America Great Again” hats. On his way into the bar, first-year Jake Conger said he thought it was great that Trump Jr. was visiting a swing state late in the election. “It’s good way to drum up support and let the people of Ohio know that Trump is with them,” Conger said.

Graduate student Tammy Atha held a sign that read: “I was sexually assaulted in this bar. It is not just locker room talk.” That message, like other anti-Trump messages, references Trump’s statement about sexually assaulting women then dismissing the claim as “locker room” banter.

“I did my undergrad at Miami University as well,” Atha said, “and my sophomore year I was sexually assaulted in Brick Street. So for me, it’s personal. Donald Trump’s rhetoric is not a representation of America, and I’ll be damned if he’s president.”

'Not locker room talk'

On that topic, Miami College Democrats Vice President Matt Ziegman said: “That was not locker room talk and no matter how he tries to excuse it, I think the American people know the truth.”

Keith Tuma, professor of English, shared his disdain over the hundreds in line for Trump Jr.’s speech.

“I think it’s a spectacle of disgusting proportions,” Tuma said. “I know that I’m opposed to all things Trump as a citizen of Oxford. I find the prospect of a Trump presidency horrifying, but it’s a democracy, or it’s supposedly a democracy.”

Oxford City Council Member Steve Dana joined the mostly college-aged protesters and accepted a “Love Trumps Hate” sign.

“I applaud the people who have come out to express their views,” Dana said. “It’s a very reasonable and positive statement that people are making because they are saying what their signs say which is ‘Let’s love each other and let’s not tear each other down.’”

Protesters asked to move

Eventually, the protesters made their way across the street and crowded in front of Brick Street before being told by a police officer that they needed to move.

“We don’t want any issues,” the officer told them. “The media is over there, so please go to that street corner. We just do not want any issues.”

The protesters’ chants became more vulgar as the day went on, transitioning from phrases such as “No justice! No peace!” to references to Trump's anatomy. A few protesters left the main group and joined a silent protest across the street.

By 2:39 p.m., Trump supporters poured out of Brick Street and came face-to-face with protesters.

“I think [the protestors are] being manipulated by the mainstream media,” said Adam, a Miami senior who declined to give his last name. “They’ve never really heard Donald Trump communicate his stance on issues. They’ve only ever heard 30-second Facebook videos that misinform them on what they say or what he’s done.”

Clinton 'epitome of corruption'

After the crowds cleared, a lone middle-aged man leaned up against the gates of the bar holding a “Hillary for Prison” sign. Larry Shannon offered his thoughts on the upcoming election.

“Donald Trump’s not perfect, but Hillary Clinton is the epitome of corruption in politics,” Shannon said. “Scandals have followed the Clintons since Bill was governor in Arkansas and I think it’ll keep following her if she becomes president.”

Paul Odioso, a Trump supporter and Miami alum, was confronted by a group of protesters as he walked out of Brick Street.

“They engaged me, they put me down as a stupid Trump supporter,” Odioso said. “I told him, ‘Why don’t you think for yourself young man?’ And then he just threw F-bombs back to me. I just thought it was unfair and typical of the emotionalism (and) propaganda that these people believe. They don’t want to have a substantive discussion about the issues.”

On the other end of the spectrum, Ziegman declared the anti-Trump protest a peaceful success.

“I think students were very clear: Donald Trump and his divisive rhetoric aren’t welcome at Miami University,” Ziegman said. “His hate-filled campaign has no place here in Oxford.”

Photo: Donald Trump Jr. models his RedHawks hockey jersey during a campaign rally at Brick Street Monday. -- Photo by Renée Farrell

This story was produced in collaboration with The Miami Student.