SALEM, Virginia – Donald Trump is either poised for another term in the White House or facing a return to political obscurity.

Regardless of the outcome on Tuesday, the former president is approaching the conclusion of a notable chapter in his political saga: his lively campaign rallies.

Whether he wins or loses, Trump has declared this will be his final campaign.

This indicates that the four rallies held on Monday across three key states—North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Michigan—mark the culmination of numerous events that started in the summer of 2015, as Trump aims for a second opportunity at the presidency.

His rallies have long been essential for energizing his supporters, rallying potential voters, and attracting backlash through often provocative remarks about rivals, women, and minority groups, frequently veering into violent language. Typically, these events focus more on stirring emotions than discussing substantive policy. They have also produced some of the most controversial incidents of this election cycle, including an assassination attempt resulting in a Trump supporter’s death.

“A lot of fascinating things have occurred,” noted 18-year-old Zeb Grant, who attended his first Trump rally on Saturday in Salem, Virginia, referencing the assassination attempt and Trump’s frequently headline-making statements.

Polls for 2024 indicate a tightly contested race that, similar to Trump’s past presidential campaigns, has been stirred by his rallies, especially in the final week.

At a Sunday event at an airport near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Trump again employed aggressive imagery towards perceived adversaries, specifically the media: “To get me, someone would have to shoot through the fake news. And I don’t mind that so much. I don’t mind.”

Trump has also been reminiscing about his past rallies, as he did on Saturday in Salem, where he lauded the contributions of his supporters to American history in front of a nearly packed 7,000-seat venue, even noting some gaps in the crowd.

Election Day, he stated, “is going to be one of the most intriguing days in our country’s history,” referring to his matchup against Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, while encouraging attendees to mobilize and vote against the sitting vice president.

The Trump campaign speech

Since the first Trump event on June 17, 2015, at Manchester Community College in New Hampshire, rallies quickly became a significant fixture for conservative voters. The campaign expanded venues to accommodate larger crowds, from the Dallas Mavericks arena to a 33,000-seat football stadium in Mobile, Alabama, often reaching full capacity.

Over the years, Trump has favored outdoor venues like stadiums and fairgrounds. However, due to security concerns and somewhat reduced attendance, his more recent rallies have shifted to airports and indoor arenas. The initial rallies also sparked intense protests, leading to the cancellation of a planned event in Chicago in 2016.

Trump’s rallies were initially designed to engage voters in states holding early caucus and primary elections, such as Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. During general elections, the attention has primarily been on swing states, but not exclusively. At a rally in Madison Square Garden, Trump surrogate Vivek Ramaswamy noted that New York could be a swing state in 2024, a claim disputed by Democrats. In choosing Salem, Virginia, the Trump campaign targeted a state they hope to win against Harris, despite polls suggesting it’s a challenging prospect.

Similar to previous events, Trump supporters eagerly queued for hours in Virginia. Many passed the time visiting merchandise stalls selling Trump-themed items like hats, t-shirts, hoodies, shot glasses, and shoes. Once inside the arena, local figures—some well-known, others not—energized the crowd by promoting Trump and the Republican Party. The event in Salem featured Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, who may have presidential ambitions of his own in the future.

While waiting for the speakers, attendees enjoyed tunes from a playlist that has evolved over time due to artists requesting that their songs be removed. The playlist still features classics like James Brown’s “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” and Alice Cooper’s “No More Mister Nice Guy.” Trump continues to enter the stage to Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA.”

Trump’s speeches, which frequently exceed 90 minutes, are known for their off-topic moments, referred to as “the weave” by Trump, yet they follow a fundamental structure. Recently, he starts with a question posed by GOP nominee Ronald Reagan in 1980: Are you better off now than you were four years ago?

Earlier this year, Trump focused on high inflation and the rising cost of living. In recent discussions, he has pointed to immigration as the most pressing issue, citing alleged crimes committed by undocumented immigrants. His rallies often include videos featuring family members of crime victims, although Trump has distorted some of the facts and statistics he references.

When discussing foreign affairs, Trump claims the world stands on the brink of “World War III,” insisting he alone can prevent it. He frequently criticizes the Biden administration for its management of international strife, asserting without evidence that conflicts such as the Israel-Hamas war and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine wouldn’t have occurred had he been in office.

Trump also tries to resonate with local interests. Recently, he has had local sports teams join him on stage, often tying it to the discussions about transgender athletes. For instance, in Salem, he introduced members of the Roanoke College women’s swim team.

One notable shift since previous election rallies is the length of Trump’s speeches; he now often speaks for over 90 minutes. A computer analysis by The New York Times in early October indicated that Trump’s speeches average 82 minutes, compared to just 45 minutes in 2016. There’s also been an increase in attendees who leave rallies before they conclude, as seen on Saturday in Salem, where several seats were vacant by the time Trump finished his address.

Additionally, Trump’s tone has grown more somber during this campaign, and he has begun using more profanity. At his rally in Gastonia, North Carolina, he remarked about his campaigning skills, saying, “I’m really good at this s—.”

Jennifer Mercieca, an expert in American political rhetoric at Texas A&M University, described Trump’s rallies as vital to his campaign strategy. She believes they are crafted to capture media attention, engage supporters both in person and through screens, and to demonstrate the strength of his following.

“These rallies have become a form of political catechism where Trump paints a picture of a chaotic and violent world, promising to wield his extraordinary powers to protect his supporters,” she explained.

Trump and his associates claim that the rallies serve as a platform to organize, register voters, raise funds, and provide entertainment, complete with videos and a lively music selection.

“It showcases to the entire country how much support Trump has,” expressed Laura Mercier, a 57-year-old retired machinist from Blacksburg, Virginia, who attended the rally in Salem.

In Virginia, as in other locations, Trump touted his supporters as “the greatest political movement” in history.

Insults at Trump rallies

Since announcing his presidential candidacy in June 2015, Trump’s speeches have captured significant attention, largely fueled by his and his allies’ combative rhetoric.

When he declared his intention to run nearly a decade ago from the lobby of Trump Tower, Trump famously claimed that Mexico was “bringing crime, they’re bringing rapists and some, I assume, are good people.”

Fast-forward to the present day. At his highly-publicized rally on October 27 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made a controversial joke, stating: “I don’t know if you know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico.”

The Latino community in Pennsylvania reacted negatively. Trump and his team criticized the humor, which was part of a series of racist comments made during an event that also featured misogynistic and transphobic remarks as well as other offensive language.

Trump’s rallies have primarily centered on attacking political adversaries, from his initial focus on 2016 Republican candidate Jeb Bush to Democrats like Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris, as well as other Republicans such as Liz Cheney.

Last week, Trump drew backlash for suggesting that Cheney, a former GOP representative and prominent critic of his, should be placed in a situation of armed conflict. This remark was made during a Q-and-A session with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, rather than at a rally.

During the 2016 campaign, chants of “lock her up” aimed at Clinton became a rallying cry, and now, those chants have shifted towards Biden and Harris.

An assassination attempt

A rally in 2024 included a shocking event: An assassination attempt on Trump occurred on July 12 in Butler, Pennsylvania, where a rifle bullet grazed his ear. The incident resulted in the death of Corey Comperatore and injuries to two others, with a Secret Service agent ultimately killing the shooter.

This incident marked the first of two assassination attempts against Trump, with a second occurring in September when an individual followed him at his golf course in Florida.

Trump frequently refers to the assassination attempt in his rally speeches, leading the crowd in a chant of “Fight! Fight! Fight!” as he was escorted off the stage in Butler.

In Salem, he lightheartedly remarked, “I’m missing a little piece of my ear.”

On October 5, the Trump campaign organized a review of the Butler rally, this time incorporating bulletproof glass at the podium for safety.

Bizarre moments

As early voting commenced in several states, Trump rallies have increasingly produced unusual moments in recent weeks.

Following a rally on October 15 in Oaks, Pennsylvania, which was disrupted twice due to medical emergencies, Trump instructed his staff to play music to soothe the audience. He then remained on stage for nearly 40 minutes, enjoying the music and interacting with the crowd.

Four days later, at a rally in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, Trump celebrated the physical prowess of the late golf icon Arnold Palmer, who was originally from Latrobe.

During another event in Milwaukee, Trump voiced his dissatisfaction regarding the venue’s sound quality, seized the microphone, and, to some observers, appeared to mime a sexual act with the microphone stand.

Over the years, Trump has praised the fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter during his speeches and has often recited a songs’ lyrics titled “The Snake,” which tells the story of a woman who tends to a wounded snake only to be bitten in return.

‘Sometimes, he runs his mouth’

Trump and his supporters argue that the rallies provide a platform for him to share his agenda, engage with voters, boost turnout, and criticize Harris and Biden for their administration’s shortcomings.

During the rally in Salem, Virginia, some Trump supporters expressed a desire for him to be more cautious with his public comments.

“Sometimes, he runs his mouth a little more than he should – but we all do,” noted Grant from nearby Troutville, who is preparing to cast his first vote.

Similar to rally fans in other regions, those from Salem relished the experience and remained loyal to Trump. They believe these rallies play a significant role in motivating voter participation.

“It gets the people involved—it brings them out—it motivates them,” said Kathy.

Ferguson, 75, a retired individual living in Franklin County, Virginia, and an active Republican volunteer, remarked, “These events foster a sense of togetherness.”

She went on to say, “People simply adore Trump – it’s that straightforward.”

Jason Mattox, 56, who runs a business in Salem, expressed that the rallies offer Trump an opportunity to connect with his supporters and allow them to feel part of something significant in history.

“It keeps everyone well-informed,” he stated. “It energizes the crowd and gets them thrilled.”

As Trump’s 2024 campaign draws to a close, he is gearing up for a series of rallies in four out of the seven crucial states: Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, and Michigan. The campaign will culminate with a rally in Grand Rapids, Michigan, reminiscent of his strategies from the 2016 and 2020 elections. Scheduled for 10:30 p.m., it is expected to extend past midnight into Election Day.

As the campaign enters its final stages, Trump has taken time to reflect on his long-standing rallies, which have been the focal point of his political journey. Speaking to supporters in Allentown, Pennsylvania, he expressed, “We’ll really miss these massive gatherings … I truly enjoy the rallies.” He also mentioned to his audience, “We’ve navigated this path together.”

Throughout history, various politicians have attracted excited crowds – from William Jennings in the early 1900s to Barack Obama in the early 2000s – yet few have managed to maintain such intensity and longevity as Trump. He stands out as one of the rare presidential candidates to seek renomination after experiencing a loss in a presidential election.

Looking to the future, Trump has pondered who might take over his role. He briefly mentioned his running mate, JD Vance, but has largely emphasized the importance of the moment slipping away. During a rally in Warren, Mich., he reminded attendees, “We won’t have this much longer.”

“You know, we’re coming to the end,” Trump remarked. “We are winding down.”