During Donald Trump’s recent speech at the National Religious Broadcasters International Christian Media Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, there were reports of measures taken to conceal a lower-than-expected audience turnout.
The event, which took place on February 22, saw Trump arriving considerably late, two hours and forty minutes after the scheduled start. Observers noted that approximately 300 chairs were removed from the back of the room at Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center to give the appearance of a full house, contrasting earlier images showing numerous empty seats, per Newsweek.
This incident echoes past instances where Trump’s team has been accused of attempting to create an impression of higher attendance at his events. Notably, in 2018, it was reported that Trump had inauguration photos altered to show a larger crowd than was present, a move prompted by his dissatisfaction with comparisons to the crowd size at Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration.
Despite such controversies, Trump continues to enjoy significant support within the Republican Party, leading the primary race comfortably ahead of Nikki Haley, his main rival, according to Real Clear Politics. Trump’s lead is underscored by his commanding 74.9 percent preference among likely Republican voters, per The Guardian.
At the Nashville convention, Trump sought to bolster his support by appealing to Christian values, positioning himself as a defender of Christianity in the public sphere. He promised to protect religious presence in public life, emphasizing the importance of Christianity to the nation. Trump, who has been married three times and faces a legal battle over alleged hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, proclaimed his proud Christian identity and stressed the need to restore religious values in the United States.
The Tennessee Republican presidential primary is set for March 5, with early voting already in progress. Trump’s recent victory over Haley in South Carolina, her home state, further solidifies his position as the frontrunner. Despite this, Haley remains hopeful about her chances, even as polls and recent outcomes suggest a likely win for Trump in Tennessee.