Aug. 17 Trump came to Minnesota to hold a rally in Mankato. Lori Johnson, of Johnson Materials in Clearwater, was there, and provided a first-hand account of the event.

She said that it was a very small event, and attendees were  there by invitation only, and were given a background check. One local company supplied the cranes used to hoist the giant American flags at the event. Lori and her husband, being one of this company’s biggest clients, were offered the invitation through them. Lori said that there were between 200-300 people present only, as far as she could tell.

Lori noted that when the President spoke, he made sure to highlight the issues that were important to Minnesota, such as regarding the iron range, the quarries, and the respective workers of each. He also took time to highlight some of the local politicians running for office this fall.

Lori noted that very few local media groups were at the rally itself to report on it, and that the only local stations covering the event used short clips from when President Trump landed in Minneapolis.

Lori also said that she ran into Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer, who appeared in uniform as a statement to show local law enforcement’s support of President Trump. Sheriff Deringer was kind enough to provide this comment: “It certainly was a statement that I wanted to make and I am blessed to serve in a community that supports me making such a statement. I obviously serve in a non-partisan seat so I am a bit more inclined to be less ‘in your face.’ Also, given the climate of our state and our country, I do not want to invite or solicit a challenge to anyone or any group that wishes to make a statement in opposition. If things continue down the path that they are currently on, I believe that leaders who care about this country will eventually have to make a stand.”