Trump and Vance Shake Atlanta With Their Rally: All You Need to Know if You Went

Grand Rally at the GSU Convocation Center

This past Saturday, former President Donald Trump and his running mate, J.D. Vance, hosted a big-time rally at the Georgia State University Convocation Center in Atlanta. The center, which can fit a whopping 8000 folks, was the hub of all the action for the day. The gates opened at 1 p.m. and the rally kicked off at 3 p.m., sticking to the decided time. As for the headliners, J.D. Vance took to the podium around 4:30 p.m. and the main man Donald Trump was expected to begin his address at 5 p.m. However, he made a slight change and at 5:16 p.m., Mr. Trump ended up having a chat about inflation with local Black business owners.

What was Transport Like?

Now, for folks driving to the venue, they had a bit of rerouting to do – the Interstate 85 near the airport had partial closures caused by Trump’s convoy. There were also road closures at Capitol Avenue, Ralph David Abernathy, and University Avenue close to the GSU Convocation Center. Roadblocks were also set up off and on throughout the day for the even’ts preparation.

People Gathering Early for the Event

The excitement for the Trump/Vance rally was sky-high. People began lining up bright and early in downtown Atlanta. If you were at the rally or were planning on being there, it was crucial to get there early, with folks already lined up from the wee hours of Saturday morning. As for parking, it opened up at 8 a.m. and was up for grabs on a first come, first served basis. The GSU arena has two parking spots – the Blue Lot at 76 Fulton St. SW and the Green Lot at 640 Pollard Blvd. SW.

Bag Policy and Prohibited Items

If you were packing for the rally, it was best to leave your purse or bag at home; the Trump campaign clearly mentioned no bags or purses. Also, steer clear of common prohibited items like drones, banners, explosives, firearms, selfie sticks, large umbrellas, laser lights/pointers, and more.

How to Get There & Tickets

If you preferred the convenience of rideshare, you could have been dropped off at the corner of Fulton Street SW and Capitol Avenue SE. And for those relying on public transportation, the GSU MARTA station was only .7 miles from the venue. Last-minute tickets? It looks like they were still available!

Who Was and Wasn’t There

While the guest list wasn’t fully disclosed, it’s very likely that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was in attendance. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones had confirmed his participation and the Georgian GOP’s chairman, Josh McKoon, was expected too. Interestingly, a few big names weren’t present – Gov. Brian Kemp had other commitments, former Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan was absent due to his vocal critique of Trump, and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, along with Attorney General Chris Carr, gave the event a miss.

Previous Visits & What’s Coming up

This rally marks Trump’s fourth visit to Georgia this year, with the last one being a fundraiser in Rome back in April. He also held a campaign rally with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and contested the first presidential debate against President Joe Biden in June. Vance, on the other hand, had his first Atlanta visit as the Republican vice presidential nominee. Looking ahead, Vice President Kamala Harris is slated for a rally in Savannah with her yet-to-be-announced running mate on August 9.