Looking Back At Donald Trump’s Rally In Bossier City
It was a big night in Bossier City, Louisiana, back on November 14th, 2019, President Donald Trump flew in to hold one of his massive rallies. The entire event was meant to throw support behind Eddie Rispone's campaign for governor against the incumbent, John Bel Edwards.
Rispone would later lose that election, but the President was still joined by some of Louisiana's biggest political names. Senators Bill Cassidy and John Kennedy were both there on stage, and they are still serving in their positions today. Not to mention a local politician who would rapidly rise in DC in the years after.
Trump Brought Up LSU Football Right Away
President Trump knew his Bossier City audience...he immediately kicked things off by talking about the huge LSU football victory over Alabama just a week earlier. That was a game he attended personally down in Tuscaloosa, so he was able to see the LSU victory for himself.
He understood that in Shreveport and Bossier...actually ALL of Louisiana...that win was just as important as any political news. It was a smart move that got the crowd energized right from the start.
Barksdale and Military Power In Trump's Speech
After covering some key political points, the President’s focus shifted to the U.S. military. He made a specific reference to rebuilding the nation's military arsenals, and even directly mentioned the B-52s stationed at nearby Barksdale Air Force Base.
He didn't stop there, continuing to talk about recent military actions. He also spoke on his view of how the American military was perceived across the globe.
Trump Was Fighting Off The Impeachment
Of course, he had to talk about the impeachment inquiry that was underway. He described the people behind it as "deranged"...and even called them "lunatics".
He wasn't just using words, either. At one point, he held up a printed report about the inquiry for the crowd to see. The President spoke for roughly an hour, and he also gave time to the other officials like Kennedy, Cassidy, and Rispone to address the crowd.
Future Speaker Of The House On Stage
During the time of the rally in 2019, Mike Johnson was just known as the U.S. Representative for Louisiana's 4th District. Which was kind of making him the official host for the President's visit to Bossier City. He was the one who had announced the event, even telling constituents it was going to be "epic".
It’s incredible to think about his position then, versus where he is now. In the few years since that rally, Johnson has had one of the fastest political ascents in modern history...becoming the 56th Speaker of the House on October 25, 2023. He went from a Louisiana congressman getting called up on stage, to third in line for the Presidency.
Who knows, maybe that trajectory started that night in Bossier City.