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President receives warm welcome at Lunken, headed to Warren County for rally; in Richmond KY tonight


By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor

A crowd of more than 100 greeted President Donald Trump at Lunken Airport in Cincinnati Friday afternoon.

President Donald Trump greets the crowd with open arms upon arrival at Lunken Airport Friday afternoon. Trump was in the Tri-State for a rally at the Warren County Fairgrounds in support of Republican candidates in the November election (photos by Mark Hansel).

Dozens more lined Airport Road and Wilmer Avenue, hoping to see Air Force One land or to get a glimpse of the president’s motorcade as it left the airport.

Trump was in the Tri-State for a rally with an expected capacity crowd at the Warren County Fairgrounds in Lebanon to enlist support for Republican candidates in the November election.

U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), who is locked in a tight race for reelection with Democrat Aftab Pureval, was among those that greeted Trump at the airport.

Chabot greeted Trump as he disembarked from Air Force One and walked with the President to greet the crowd.

In addition to offering his support for Chabot at Friday night’s rally, Trump was expected to tout the economy and encourage those in attendance to get out and vote for Republican candidates on Election Day.

Musician Lee Greenwood was scheduled to sing “Proud to be an American” as Trump was introduced at the rally.

President Donald J. Trump was greeted by a crowd of more than 100 at Lunken Airport. Dozens more lined Airport Road and Wilmer Avenue hoping to catch a glimpse of POTUS. Most in attendance said they wanted to be there to show support because they weren't able to attend the rally for Republican candidates Friday evening at the Warren County Fairgrounds

Posted by Mark Hansel on Friday, October 12, 2018

Most in attendance at the airport said they wouldn’t be able to make it to the rally at the Warren County Fairgrounds, so they showed up at the airport to get a glimpse of, and maybe a word or two with, the President.

Trump obliged, stopping for several minutes to speak with those in the crowd before going inside for a Chabot fundraiser and heading to Warren County.

The President will be heading to Kentucky on Saturday.

He will be the first sitting President to come to Eastern Kentucky University on Saturday night as he campaigns there on behalf of incumbent Andy Barr who is in a hotly contested House race with Democrat challenger Amy McGrath.

McGrath, a former Marine fighter pilot had former Vice President Joe Biden stumping for her in Owingsville, Ky., on Friday.

Kentucky Today’s Mark Maynard reported:


President Trump has been in Kentucky in the past two years. He came to Louisville for a campaign stop in 2016 at the National Rifle Association’s convention and was in Louisville in 2017 to outline his policy objectives.


Those wanting to attend the rallyat EKU Saturday will need a ticket for general admittance.

Those who obtained a ticket online will be allowed to enter the waiting area in Alumni Coliseum starting at 8 a.m. However, the doors will not open until 4 p.m.


Attendees are subject to a security screening upon arrival. No signs, weapons of any kind, fireworks, backpacks, laser pointers, selfie sticks, paint, e-cigarettes, confetti or glitter is allowed in the Coliseum.

A full list of items can be found online at www.eku.edu/rally


Attendees can bring umbrellas, small coolers and folder chairs for the wait but those items aren’t allowed inside the coliseum and must be left on the parking lot at the owner’s risk.

Attendees will have to park offsite and walk to Alumni Coliseum. There is no parking in the coliseum lot.


Anyone wanting to protest can do so in the restricted areas listed on the map at www.eku.edu/rally


Heavy traffic is expected from 6 a.m. to midnight and those not attending the rally or demonstrations are advised to stay away from the area. EKU students are on fall break next week and many students left Friday.


EKU has hosted elected officials and other dignitaries from different political parties on campus in the past. EKU’s history includes a visit in 1961 from then Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, and recently former first lady Michelle Obama was a guest for EKU’s 2013 spring commencement.
 

Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com


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