Confusion, security cause long lines at Trump rally

Kirk A. Bado , USA TODAY NETWORK
Tennessee Published 6:11 p.m. CT March 15, 2017 | Updated 13 hours ago

President Trump shared his optimism about introducing a bill that would repeal and replace Obamacare at an event in Nashville.

Half an hour before President Donald Trump was set to speak at his Nashville rally at Municipal Auditorium, the second tier of the stadium was all but empty.

Doors for the rally opened at 3:30 p.m. and the earliest supporters lined up outside the auditorium around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, with thousands of people braving the cold throughout the day. Even after the auditorium started letting fans in, lines for the rally still snaked around the stadium minutes before Trump was originally scheduled to deliver his remarks.

Musical acts and big name speakers like U.S. Senator Bob Corker stalled for time to allow the upper tier seats to fill before the president delivers his speech. But the show had to go on, the campaign only had the auditorium booked through 9.

Trump took to the stage and acknowledged the supporters still trickling in around him and the hundreds of people still waiting outside.

"So, we're just going to let the other folk come in, fill it up, this is some crowd you should see what's outside. Unbelievable." Trump said when he began his speech.

Security delays might have caused a backlog of fans as they went through the screening process.

As of 6 p.m., people were still filtering in and the line to the door stretched back several blocks. Some fans left disheartened because they ended up standing in lines for hours that ultimately led nowhere.

Gracie Nunyabiz @GracieNunyabiz

HOLYMOLY!!!!!#TrumpRally pic as of 22 minutes ago #Nashville
Its gonna take 2 days to get folks in @realDonaldTrump#RNRTN #RedNationRising pic.twitter.com/OZ7GipanY6

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TheDailyCoin.org @RoryTDC

@GracieNunyabiz @realDonaldTrump this is why we left - we would have been somewhere in this area of the line about 5-7 blocks from entrance
7:29 PM - 15 Mar 2017

David Plazas
✔
@davidplazas

Two hours in line already. Below a pair preach about sin to attendees. #TrumpRally #trumpinTN #TrumpInNashville
6:31 PM - 15 Mar 2017 · Nashville, TN

Chas Sisk @chassisk

If Municipal Auditorium isn't full tonight, or near there, it'll be a failure of logistics, not demand. https://twitter.com/davidplazas/stat...45838944116737 …
7:11 PM - 15 Mar 2017

Todd Pembroke, 39, of Nashville is a Trump supporter. He arrived at the auditorium around 5:00 p.m. to attend the rally but ultimately decided to not wait in the mile long line.

"From what I noticed everyone wanted to come out and show support, but because the line was so long, I decided to go have a drink instead," he said.

Even after the relatively short speech concluded, there were still long lines of supporters waiting for a chance to enter the stadium. After waiting for hours, they were still left in the cold when Trump sped off to Air Force One.

Municipal Auditorium has a capacity of nearly 10,000.

Jason Gonzales contributed to this report

http://www.tennessean.com/story/news...ally/99223766/