ORLANDO, Fla. — President Donald Trump kicked off his 2020 reelection campaign in Orlando, Florida, on Tuesday.
Thousands filled the Amway Center in the heart of downtown Orlando in the all-important I-4 corridor to hear from the president.
Action News Jax anchor Tenikka Hughes was there for the speech.
#45Fest is now getting underway outside @AmwayCenter with a live band. #TrumpRally #TrumpRallyOrlando @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/85QFmgktJ3
— Tenikka Smith Hughes (@TenikkaANjax) June 18, 2019
Hundreds are gathered for #45Fest across the street from @AmwayCenter. The crowd is growing. There is a stage for live music, food trucks & a big screen to watch the President’s speech tonight. #TrumpRallyOrlando #TrumpRally @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/gLjBtofsoZ
— Tenikka Smith Hughes (@TenikkaANjax) June 18, 2019
The event took place at the Amway Center and was expected to bring at least 20,000 people.
Early in Trump’s speech, he made it clear he chose to kick off his reelection bid in Florida for a reason, calling it his second home, and then he referred to the Sunshine State as his first home.
Florida Gov. Ron Desantis and his wife, Casey, met the president and first lady when they landed in Orlando and attended the rally.
Prior to Trump taking the stage, his sons and Vice President Mike Pence primed the crowd.
“If you want, join us and reelect Trump … We've made America great again in 2 1/2 years.” Pence said.
Arriving at @AmwayCenter early to go through security and media set up ahead of President #Trump’s re-election campaign kickoff tonight in Orlando. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/G75FYoLI6p
— Tenikka Smith Hughes (@TenikkaANjax) June 18, 2019
I'm heading to Orlando to anchor our live coverage from President #Trump's re-election campaign kickoff. I'll have live reports starting at 5pm on CBS47 @ActionNewsJax & on @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/4eKMpm92oS
— Tenikka Smith Hughes (@TenikkaANjax) June 17, 2019
Trump addressed his critics and, once again, claimed his innocence in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. He also focused on what he considers some of his key accomplishments so far in office, including the crackdown on immigration, the effort to dismantle the Islamic State group, and low unemployment rates.
On the road to 2020, it appears Trump isn't changing his playbook but asking voters for more time to stay the course. "We've done so much: military, tax cuts, Obamacare … I won't let you down. I won't," Trump said.
The president also adopted a new 2020 campaign motto tonight, moving on from “Make America great again” to “Keep America great.”
A few blocks away from the Amway Center, there was a counter-rally called "Win With Love."
Before Hughes got to the Trump rally, she talked to one of the organizers of "Win With Love" about the message the rally hoped to send. “So, I feel like I have to do something and this is one of the things. I’ve gotten real active with the Democratic club and DEC in Sumter County. We've to get him out of office."
Sen. Bernie Sanders gave a Democratic response to the president's rally in Orlando.
RELATED: Trump supporters line up, roads close ahead of Tuesday's rally in Orlando, Trump protesters rally at gay bar blocks from arena speech
TRENDING:
- Police chase ends with 2 women badly hurt in West Jacksonville
- Guns N' Roses to perform at Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville
- 9th American tourist dead in Dominican Republic while vacationing with friends
- St. Johns County bicyclists killed after hit-and-run: Deputies find car, not suspect
LIVE: President Trump 2020 campaign kickoff rallyLIVE: President Trump kicks off his 2020 campaign with rally in Orlando
Posted by Action News Jax on Tuesday, June 18, 2019
LIVE: President Trump 2020 campaign kickoff rallyLIVE: President Trump kicks off his 2020 campaign with rally in Orlando continued.
Posted by Action News Jax on Tuesday, June 18, 2019
STAY UPDATED: Download the Action News Jax app for live updates on breaking stories
Cox Media Group