WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A day after President Donald Trump and Joe Biden held dueling town halls, the president's son was back on the campaign trail in West Palm Beach.
Donald Trump Jr. held a "Make America Great Again" rally at the Hilton West Palm Beach Airport hotel.
SPECIAL COVERAGE: Elections 2020
About 400 people attended Trump Jr.'s rally in the Hilton's majestic ballroom. U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., was in attendance for the event.
WPTV spoke with people before the event; some were invited while others signed up.
Ken Bonawitz was a car salesman who lost his job in North Carolina amid the pandemic in July.
"I was basically abandoned in North Carolina. No job," said Bonawitz, the owner of KJ's Promotional Printing.
What he had was the $1,200 stimulus that he used to start an election memorabilia-themed business. His sales of masks, t-shirts, umbrellas, towels, and other items now generate about $6,000 a week.
"Instead of working for money, make money work for you," said Bonawitz. "The election season on my business has been phenomenal. And it’s given me the ability to start with this."
He said he wants the same economic results for all Americans -- no matter what side of the aisle they are on.
"I don't see [color]," he said. “You bleed red, white and blue just like I do."
He was among the people who came to see Trump, Jr. speak at Friday's event.
Much of Trump Jr.'s remarks targeted Biden. But he also spoke about the media, the current election climate, the economy, safety and security and the military.
"You have a president that's willing to take on the D.C. elite and the Pentagon elite," said Trump Jr. "If you want him to continue, we need you in the game."
The response from the crowd suggested those were promises people came to hear.
"I think all of those things are important for the average everyday American," said Phyllis Baker, Club 45 USA member.
Maria Alexander, a parent and Army veteran, said she brought her teenage son to the event to engage him in the election conversation.
"They think we all fit in the same box, and we don't," said Alexander. "You know our kids today, unfortunately, can’t rely solely on the media or Google, and so they need to have this experience and see what democracy is supposed to look like. And see where you may have a different opinion than I have, but it doesn't mean that we have to hate each other. And it's OK to have a difference of opinion. That’s what democracy is."
Trump Jr.'s focus will remain on Florida as he heads up the coast Saturday for an event in Ormond Beach.
Other attendees include a mom who brought her 13-year-old son to the rally to be closer to the political process.
"You know our kids today, unfortunately, can't rely solely on the media or Google, and so they need to have this experience and see what democracy is supposed to look like," said Alexander. "We may have a difference of opinions, but it doesn't mean that we have to hate each other. That’s what democracy is."
