About 200 pro-Trump enthusiasts gathered in Otay Mesa as the president flew into town to visit the border wall prototypes.
American flags were on prominent display at the rally in an Otay Mesa industrial park as were patriotic songs like “I’m Proud To Be An American.”
Signs and shirts boasted popular slogans like “Build the Damn Wall”, “I’m a deplorable” and “Strong Women for Trump.” The event was lively, but peaceful.
RELATED: Trump Tours Border Wall Prototypes While Bashing California
“We have organized this rally to support President Trump coming here and making a final decision on the final phases of the border wall prototypes. And we want to show him that Californians and people throughout the country have come here to this specific rally to see president Trump and to support him,” said Amy Sutton of San Diego Patriots, the group that put the rally together.
The rally did feature the kind of vitriol that was a hallmark of the Trump campaign.
Former California Assemblymember Tim Donnelly lashed out at those who have resisted the Trump Administration’s harsh approach to immigration.
“I’ve been praying for federal agents to arrest Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf — for aiding and abetting criminal aliens in our country,” Donnelly said.
Politics ignited the crowd’s passions but many were here not just for the speeches, but to let the nation’s 45th president know they too support a new border wall.
RELATED: LIVE BLOG: Trump Praises Troops, Promises Military Buildup After Border Visit
Temecula resident Lori McClear said she prayed during her drive down to San Diego. She wants to see the wall built.
“Mainly to keep the criminals out and to have people go through the legal process of coming into our country to become a citizen,” said McClear.
There was hope the president’s motorcade might drive by at some point, with the rally stopping for a moment as rumor of a motorcade pushed the crowd to the nearby street. But the motorcade never appeared as the president found another route to the border wall prototypes.
