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BumRushDaShow

(170,711 posts)
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 10:51 AM Saturday

Trump greeted by empty seats at Arizona rally leaving supporters 'totally shocked': report

Source: Raw Story

April 18, 2026 7:36AM ET


Donald Trump's ability to pack arenas is evaporating.The president who once filled sports venues across the country couldn't even come close to filling a 4,500-seat Arizona church on Friday night, exposing the dramatic erosion of his political momentum.

According to the Washington Post, Trump was the featured speaker at a Turning Point USA rally in Phoenix at Dream City Church. Despite his boast earlier in the day on Truth Social about addressing a "BIG CROWD," the turnout was sparse and underwhelming.

The attendance numbers tell the story. A Turning Point USA spokeperson claimed only about 3,000 people attended — meaning the church was roughly two-thirds full at best. For a president who once commanded arena-sized audiences, the half-empty megachurch represents a stunning reversal.

The demographic breakdown was equally telling, reports the Post. The megachurch was supposed to be a venue for Trump to drum up support among young voters. Instead, he found an audience whose members skewed older and were focused on divisions within their own party. Even longtime supporters were shocked by the sparse crowd. One Trump voter, Diane Niemann, a retired dental hygienist, told the Post she was "was not planning to come to the Friday event until she saw there was hardly a line to get in." "I'm totally shocked," Niemann said.

Read more: https://www.rawstory.com/trump-rally-flop/

62 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Trump greeted by empty seats at Arizona rally leaving supporters 'totally shocked': report (Original Post) BumRushDaShow Saturday OP
Yes,.. totally shocked that everyone is sick of listening to this fabricating prevaricating liar. magicarpet Saturday #1
Well yes, but also ... they're no longer PAYING people to attend the MAGA rallies FakeNoose Saturday #42
THANK YOU Skittles Saturday #50
Totally shocked because she lives in a psychotic fantasy bubble. Irish_Dem Saturday #2
But the camera didn't capture a crowd of 30,000 waiting outside dalton99a Saturday #3
The dumbfucks needed 10 years to see what was obvious to us in 2016 Ponietz Saturday #4
Some of us knew DECADES before that what an asshole he was....... AZ8theist Saturday #56
There are SOME rightwing-supporting young people in AZ, but it was Friday night Attilatheblond Saturday #5
Or maybe they can no longer afford to put gas in the tanks. llmart Saturday #7
Some might be working on developing bone spurs too. Attilatheblond Saturday #14
Nice. K&R. ck4829 Saturday #6
Good. electric_blue68 Saturday #8
Wait..... SergeStorms Saturday #9
That shocked me as well Bayard Saturday #10
We can report them to the IRS I suppose. But Trump controls that. travelingthrulife Saturday #37
Was The Widow Erica What's-Her-Name there . . . AverageOldGuy Saturday #11
She is disgusting! enigmania Saturday #13
She ran off stage after announcing Trump Amethyst Ring Saturday #26
Thank Darwin the megachurch in my town lies in a very progressive county in a blue state. An Orange Julius Caesar generalbetrayus Saturday #12
If they said 3000, it's probably 1000. Scrivener7 Saturday #15
A photo or two would be nice. TheRickles Saturday #18
google "##### supporters show up for red wall event in Phoenix" niyad Saturday #22
Thanks. Creepy outside, but no good indoor views to see how big the crowd actually is. TheRickles Saturday #32
That was my guess. niyad Saturday #38
Sunno, church looks pretty full to me. 3Hotdogs Saturday #52
That link only had photos of people gathered outside. TheRickles Saturday #55
Or a video like the one at the TP event that was litterly empty last week Bengus81 Saturday #25
Yes, I saw that one. Which is why I was surprised/pleased to see that Trump drew a similar crowd. TheRickles Saturday #31
If you look at that jd video, there is no way there were 2,000 people there. niyad Saturday #39
This message was self-deleted by its author ShazzieB Saturday #54
More like 300. niyad Saturday #21
This actually makes me smile more than most odins folly Saturday #16
Firts "4500 seat" churches scare the fuck out of me. 2nd, she didn't attend "because there was hardly a line" Cheezoholic Saturday #17
I think you misread. The woman quoted wasn't planning on going, until niyad Saturday #23
That Olsteen church in Houston seats over 16,000. Bengus81 Saturday #27
Yup. The one that slimy prick Olsteen refused to open up to hurricane victims. AZ8theist Saturday #57
But...but...they had just installed new carpet! What would Jesus do? Bengus81 20 hrs ago #61
It would be a sin to have dirty brown and black people mess up the new carpet, right? AZ8theist 15 hrs ago #62
It's the tribe of stupid. paleotn Saturday #41
Awww...boo, hoo, hoo, hoo..... electric_blue68 Saturday #19
It's not like he was gonna say anything they never heard before Walleye Saturday #20
They acted like they were in 2024,walking out on his rallies early Bengus81 Saturday #28
For one, he had to compete against the Phoenix Suns SouthBayDem Saturday #24
If it was, indeed, 3,000 people, that's still 3,000 people when it should be no more than 30 at this point MIButterfly Saturday #29
Oh! Oh! I haz a sad! Grim Chieftain Saturday #30
Let me broad brush this. BidenRocks Saturday #33
That MAGAt is a special kind of stupid. RockRaven Saturday #34
Biden's Fault. twodogsbarking Saturday #35
How does this not violate their tax free status? travelingthrulife Saturday #36
exactly! niyad Saturday #40
They were all at Four Seasons Landscaping, with Rudy and Kash. A drunken bash. twodogsbarking Saturday #43
Seriously? Totally shocked? ananda Saturday #44
You made a typo. it should be "the half-empty magachurch". Wonder Why Saturday #45
With BumRushDaShow Saturday #46
"Church" my Democratic Cha Saturday #47
Imagine deliberately showing up, in person, to a "rally" headlined by a child rapist* like flvegan Saturday #48
3000 in attendance, huh? Wednesdays Saturday #49
I hate seeing young people there. IcyPeas Saturday #51
I thought about moving to AZ RainCaster Saturday #53
Promises made, promises broken will do that. Aussie105 Saturday #58
Maybe Trump still believes his own myths about Arizona and the stolen victory of the 2020 election DFW Yesterday #59
It's finally LilElf70 Yesterday #60

magicarpet

(18,900 posts)
1. Yes,.. totally shocked that everyone is sick of listening to this fabricating prevaricating liar.
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 11:00 AM
Saturday

Except the hardcore MAGA Meatheads.

FakeNoose

(41,952 posts)
42. Well yes, but also ... they're no longer PAYING people to attend the MAGA rallies
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 02:37 PM
Saturday

It's just a guess, but doesn't it look like THAT was the reason for all the people coming before his election?
They showed up to get paid, and then they left. Now they aren't even showing up.

And people are surprised?

Skittles

(172,170 posts)
50. THANK YOU
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 04:55 PM
Saturday

JFC, why would anyone have to GO ANYWHERE to see and hear him, he's in our face EVERY FUCKING DAY

Attilatheblond

(9,051 posts)
5. There are SOME rightwing-supporting young people in AZ, but it was Friday night
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 11:19 AM
Saturday

Whoever planned this shindig didn't think several things thru.

Also, there was a recall of a lot of F150 pickup trucks, so some of those baby boyz might have been without wheels.

SergeStorms

(20,687 posts)
9. Wait.....
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 11:35 AM
Saturday

A 4,500 seat freaking church! And they're hosting a partisan political rally? WTF!

It's past the point where these "christian" nationalists should have their tax-exempt status revoked.

This is freaking sickening!

Bayard

(29,950 posts)
10. That shocked me as well
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 11:48 AM
Saturday

That's a stadium--not a church. No way they should be tax-exempt. Wonder what they charged to get into this event? Maybe the crowd thought he would show up as Jesus.

travelingthrulife

(5,355 posts)
37. We can report them to the IRS I suppose. But Trump controls that.
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 01:52 PM
Saturday

We need to expand the IRS again so they can go after these religious violations of their tax status.

AverageOldGuy

(3,998 posts)
11. Was The Widow Erica What's-Her-Name there . . .
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 11:52 AM
Saturday

. . . in her skin-tight widow's leather pants, stiletto heels, and see-through blouse?

generalbetrayus

(1,915 posts)
12. Thank Darwin the megachurch in my town lies in a very progressive county in a blue state. An Orange Julius Caesar
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 11:54 AM
Saturday

appearance at our megachurch would have 50 times the number of people outside hurling epithets than the number of people inside praising their Lord and Savior Donald Trump.

niyad

(133,115 posts)
22. google "##### supporters show up for red wall event in Phoenix"
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 01:01 PM
Saturday

on the AZ central web page. 24 images. creeeeepy.

TheRickles

(3,439 posts)
32. Thanks. Creepy outside, but no good indoor views to see how big the crowd actually is.
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 01:32 PM
Saturday

Which I suppose suggests that it was a small crowd, too embarrassing to show.

TheRickles

(3,439 posts)
55. That link only had photos of people gathered outside.
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 09:54 PM
Saturday

Please share if you have a link with photos showing the crowd inside the church. Thanks.

Bengus81

(10,243 posts)
25. Or a video like the one at the TP event that was litterly empty last week
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 01:14 PM
Saturday

So empty that grifter Kirk left JD to BS the few people.

TheRickles

(3,439 posts)
31. Yes, I saw that one. Which is why I was surprised/pleased to see that Trump drew a similar crowd.
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 01:29 PM
Saturday

niyad

(133,115 posts)
39. If you look at that jd video, there is no way there were 2,000 people there.
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 02:11 PM
Saturday

Barely 200, more like.

Response to TheRickles (Reply #18)

odins folly

(618 posts)
16. This actually makes me smile more than most
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 12:21 PM
Saturday

We went to see Bruce on Thursday night, downtown Phoenix, venue has a 12k+ seating for concerts, can’t find out how many seats were sold but it looked packed from where we were. Didn’t see or hear any negative voices for his message, so that then the dismal turnout for the hitler youth turning point rally really makes me believe that AZ is actually turning the corner…

😃😅

Cheezoholic

(3,789 posts)
17. Firts "4500 seat" churches scare the fuck out of me. 2nd, she didn't attend "because there was hardly a line"
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 12:24 PM
Saturday

That's all you need to know about these people. Vanity.

niyad

(133,115 posts)
23. I think you misread. The woman quoted wasn't planning on going, until
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 01:04 PM
Saturday

she saw that there was hardly a line, which shocked her.

AZ8theist

(7,465 posts)
62. It would be a sin to have dirty brown and black people mess up the new carpet, right?
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 01:55 PM
15 hrs ago

After all, that's in the Gospels. They had to move the Last Supper because new carpeting had been installed.

(Obviously sarcasm, but if that story was told, one wonders how many rubes would believe it....)

Walleye

(45,093 posts)
20. It's not like he was gonna say anything they never heard before
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 12:49 PM
Saturday

Do you think they’re actually getting tired of the repetition. That would be nice

Bengus81

(10,243 posts)
28. They acted like they were in 2024,walking out on his rallies early
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 01:18 PM
Saturday

Then...go vote for his orange ass anyway.

SouthBayDem

(33,313 posts)
24. For one, he had to compete against the Phoenix Suns
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 01:06 PM
Saturday

whooping my Golden State Warriors. The Diamondbacks won last night too over Toronto.

MIButterfly

(2,882 posts)
29. If it was, indeed, 3,000 people, that's still 3,000 people when it should be no more than 30 at this point
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 01:19 PM
Saturday

I understand that 3,000 in a room that holds 4,500 is not a large turnout, but 3,000 sounds like way too many that still believe in him.

What will it take for people to wake up? If they haven't by now, they never will. It must be a cult, only usually cult leaders are charismatic. DJT doesn't have a charismatic bone in his body.

Edited to add: I personally can't believe anyone would actually leave their house, get in their car and drive to see him. I don't even want to want to see him on my TV and that's just across the room.

BidenRocks

(3,376 posts)
33. Let me broad brush this.
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 01:34 PM
Saturday

How many (other than white) folk were in attendance.
Go to a rally, get deported!

Where was his private army? ICE had to be there for the chickenshit warhawk!

RockRaven

(19,555 posts)
34. That MAGAt is a special kind of stupid.
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 01:37 PM
Saturday

If you don't understand that people, even MAGAts, are disillusioned then you are beyond reaching.

Cha

(319,584 posts)
47. "Church" my Democratic
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 04:10 PM
Saturday

Last edited Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:49 AM - Edit history (1)

Promoting a PEDO, Homicidal Maniac, Rapist, Treasonous asshole.. what kind of "church" is that?

This is the WaPo? What will Greedy Zombie Bezos think about his Cult god getting racked with real reporting?

flvegan

(66,374 posts)
48. Imagine deliberately showing up, in person, to a "rally" headlined by a child rapist* like
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 04:40 PM
Saturday

"that's my guy, right there, and I'm here for him" type of thing.

What utter shit people. I mean stupid is stupid, and that's unfortunate, but there's a line you have to cross to become an utterly useless, waste of humanity shit person.

*allegedly, of course

IcyPeas

(25,602 posts)
51. I hate seeing young people there.
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 05:03 PM
Saturday

Ask them why they're there.

Ask them a history question.

Ask them to name all the wars he's stopped.



RainCaster

(13,773 posts)
53. I thought about moving to AZ
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 09:20 PM
Saturday

But then I visited this spring and saw way too many ugly people, as defined by the bumper stickers on their golf carts. Nope, not for me.

Aussie105

(8,033 posts)
58. Promises made, promises broken will do that.
Sat Apr 18, 2026, 11:06 PM
Saturday

Most people are so sick of Trump and his destructive game playing that it isn't funny.

How many true believers are still out there?
Hopefully, fewer and fewer every day.

DFW

(60,313 posts)
59. Maybe Trump still believes his own myths about Arizona and the stolen victory of the 2020 election
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 12:13 AM
Yesterday

But that doesn't mean that the people of Arizona are obligated to believe it.

After all, Governor Katie Hobbs and both U.S. Senators (Kelly and Gallego) are all Democrats. Maybe Trump hasn't yet figured out the meaning of that, but that doesn't mean that the rest of the state is forced to walk around in the same fog.

LilElf70

(1,595 posts)
60. It's finally
Sun Apr 19, 2026, 04:55 AM
Yesterday

the beginning of the end.

There's hope for us after all. Now we have to win everything in November and shut him down for good.

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