Everyone desires a front row spot. The queues can stretch around the venue for days leading up to the event. Outside, merchandise is for sale, including personalized pins for each city and banners.

No, this isn’t an Eras Tour concert – it’s a typical scene at rallies for president-elect Donald Trump, and it will intensify at his upcoming inauguration.

Among the most passionate of his supporters are those who resemble dedicated fans of rock bands or sports teams. This level of allegiance turns even Trump’s family members, like 18-year-old Barron, into celebrities. These superfans will travel great distances and follow Trump wherever he goes. The intersection of fandom and politics is evident, as Trump enjoys unprecedented support from devoted followers.

A notable group among Trump’s loyalists are the “Front Row Joes,” a collective of fans who journey across the country to secure prime seats at the president-elect’s rallies.

Edward Young, 65, believes he is “the world’s greatest Trump supporter.” He has attended 107 Trump rallies and numerous pro-Trump events since his first rally in 2015, despite turning down an invitation to join the exclusive Front Row Joes.

“I prefer to go solo,” Young claims. “Their organization has a strict hierarchy, dictating where members sit and who they are allowed to talk to.”

Young has waited in line for as long as three days before a rally to grab a seat directly behind Trump, often beside members of the Front Row Joes. He chooses to wear a green MAGA hat instead of red so that he stands out when seated behind Trump.

“To me, a Trump rally is the greatest show on Earth,” he asserts. “It’s like the ultimate combination of a rock concert, the World Series, the Super Bowl, Fourth of July, and your birthday, all rolled into one.”

Michael Lewis, a marketing professor at Emory University and host of the podcast “Fanalytics,” compares these Trump supporters to die-hard sports fans, noting that there’s nothing inherently wrong with such passion.

However, issues arise when political fandom infiltrates every facet of a person’s life or veers into obsession, says CarrieLynn Reinhard, a communication arts and sciences professor at Dominican University in Illinois. Lewis points out that each fandom often has an opposing “anti-fandom.” If you view your favored politician as a winning sports team, a losing team must exist, which can create rivalry.

“That’s a troubling aspect of political fandom,” Lewis notes.

‘Trump is our first rock star, superhero president’

Young has been involved with both the Democratic and Republican parties throughout his life – he participated in the Ronald Reagan campaign in high school, but became disillusioned with George Bush. His liberal wife at that time influenced his shift to the left.

Yet, he believes Trump is one-of-a-kind.

“Donald Trump is our first rock star, superhero president,” Young declares. “He’s like a real-life Tony Stark – our President Iron Man.”

Young aligns with “almost everything” Trump advocates, spanning issues from abortion to immigration and political matters.

“I felt politically hopeless until he came into the picture,” Young admits. “I honestly thought this country was on the brink of collapse.”

Community Spirit at Trump’s Rallies

Outside of Trump’s sentencing in Lower Manhattan on January 10, Joey Narvaez was among a small group of supporters holding MAGA flags and wearing matching hats in an adjacent park.

Narvaez describes Trump rallies as feeling like “a grand family gathering,” sharing his plans to journey from the Bronx to Washington, D.C. for Trump’s inauguration – a significant historical moment for him.

Fellow supporter Ariel Kohane, 53, a modern Orthodox Jew who has attended Trump rallies since 2015, notes the “wonderful” and “infectious” sense of camaraderie within their group but acknowledges some tension as well. During his speech, a heated argument erupted between a Trump supporter and two bystanders. “I’m accustomed to it,” Kohane comments.

Young even met his “soulmate” at a rally.

Traveling across the country to attend Trump events is no small task. Young has dipped into his savings to fund these journeys, coming close to bankruptcy three times during the last three elections. He has also become estranged from his sister and has been blocked on social media by three of his nieces, but he believes each sacrifice has been worthwhile for the sake of “saving this country.”

He was supposed to attend a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where Trump was attacked, but had to cancel due to an emergency eye operation. The friends he would have joined were directly in harm’s way, he explains, yet he still harbors regret for not being there. He often thinks he could have sensed something was off.

“I often feel like a warrior,” Young states. “This isn’t merely a hobby; it’s involved great sacrifice.”

Fandom: Unity or Blurred Perceptions?

Lewis describes a fan as someone passionate, engaged, and part of a collective mentality. From a marketing perspective, a fan is the ultimate consumer; fervent Trump supporters strive to be exemplary political advocates.

“Positioning oneself directly behind Trump is something people eagerly pursue,” Lewis observes. “They resemble NFL or college sports fans, meticulously dressing to be noticed right behind him.”

On a fundamental level, individuals attending multiple rallies, such as the Front Row Joes, are displaying fan behavior, according to Reinhard. The act of buying and flaunting merchandise, even outside campaign periods, can start to shape one’s identity and beliefs.

The rise of fandom culture, which Reinhard credits in part to online communities, has woven fan enthusiasm into marketing strategies.

“If you can harness the emotional drivers of people’s political engagement and associate that with identity, you can build a connection,” she states.

As some voters grow skeptical of government and media, they seek a promising vision for the future. Some supported Trump for lower grocery prices, while others leaned on him to tackle the fentanyl crisis or simply because they have been fans for a long time.

Front Row Joe Rick Fraizer mentioned in a YouTube video that if the border had been closed, his daughter, Kali, who died from fentanyl, would still be with him. However, experts in drug policy and public health caution that Trump’s proposed solutions may not truly reduce overdose deaths and could redirect funds from effective programs. Nonetheless, Trump offered him hope.

“People witness their world crumble and it’s frightening,” Reinhard explains. “That emotional response is what Trump taps into.”

As Trump’s fandom evolves throughout his second term, some supporters may remain loyal while others may lose enthusiasm as the election cycle fades.

However, Young feels that there will be no successor to Trump for a long while.

“I believe I contributed more than just my vote,” he reflects. “I have stood as a warrior in my own way, through words and ideas, and by showing up. And indeed, it was worth it. Every sacrifice I made was worthwhile.”