ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — Former President Donald Trump will visit Asheville on Wednesday, August 14, and News 13 will be there, providing live updates throughout the day.
Crews will provide coverage from his arrival at Asheville Regional Airport in the afternoon until his stop at Harrah’s Cherokee Center’s Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, where he will deliver remarks about his campaign.
TRUMP TO DISCUSS ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AT ASHEVILLE CITY HALL
Doors to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium will open at 1 p.m. for Trump’s visit, and he is expected to deliver his speech at 4 p.m.
Below are live updates:
1:00 p.m.: Doors open
The doors have opened and supporters are heading to Harrah’s Cherokee Center – Asheville for Donald Trump’s event.
12:30 p.m.: The queue is getting longer
The line of Trump supporters now stretches down Haywood Street and wraps around Battery Park Avenue. The Thomas Wolfe Auditorium has a capacity of 2,431, and event organizers say not everyone who showed up will be allowed in.
As of noon, News 13 crews had not seen any protesters. Asheville police said a protest was planned for 3 p.m. at Pack Square Park.
10:25 a.m.: Crowd grows downtown
The rally of Donald Trump supporters grew larger, with people lining the street outside the venue and along Haywood Street.
9:30 a.m.: Security is being tightened
The Asheville Police Department was outside Harrah’s Cherokee Center, lining up for security and traffic.
8:30 a.m.: Media setup inside the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
The line grew later in the morning outside Harrah’s Cherokee Center as more Trump supporters showed up.
There were also vendors selling Trump merchandise.
Meanwhile, inside the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, media from across the region were setting up to cover Trump’s visit.
News 13 crews arrived early and were able to take a look inside the stage in preparation for the afternoon’s speeches.
5:30 a.m.: Supporters line up outside the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
Fans were already lined up early in the morning. As the line grew around 5:30 a.m., Gayle Riggs of Arden told News 13 she usually never sees 4 a.m.
“This morning I knew it was 4 o’clock, because I wanted to come here and stand in line,” she said. “I like what he stands for. I support him a lot.”
TRUMP VISIT LEADS TO TIGHTENING SECURITY, DESIGNATION OF PROTEST AREAS
Riggs said she wanted to be there in person to see what Trump says about his economic plan.
When Trump last visited Asheville in 2016, he protested violently and made arrests. Asked how she felt about safety this time, Riggs said she felt safe.
“I was a little worried. I’m 76 years old. I was a little scared to come to the city. I called the police and the Civic Center. The police were very, very nice. They assured me that there would be plenty of security and that I should feel safe,” she said. “The Civic Center told me the same thing. They said they anticipated that this gathering would be safe.”
