The rain did little to dampen the enthusiasm Thursday night as thousands of supporters packed the Choctaw Event Center to welcome President Donald Trump, who made Durant one of the first stops in what he described as a monthlong push to energize Republicans ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
The rally brought together Republican candidates, elected officials, members of Trump's administration and a few unexpected faces, including NBA legend Dennis Rodman, as Trump made his case for keeping Republicans in office and urged Oklahoma voters to treat the election as though his name were on the ballot.
“Pretend I'm running, please,” Trump told the crowd. Trump's message was direct: Turnout matters. He told supporters Republicans perform better when he is personally on the ballot and warned that a lower Republican turnout during the midterms could have consequences for his administration.
“We do great when I'm on the ballot,” Trump said, adding that he wanted supporters to “vote like I'm on the ballot.”
He also warned that if Republicans lose control, Democrats could move toward impeaching him again. The Durant appearance was part of Trump's first major midterm campaign swing, with stops designed to rally voters behind Republican candidates in states where the party is looking to maintain its political strength.
Oklahoma was an especially significant stop, Trump noted, because he has carried all 77 Oklahoma counties in each of his three presidential campaigns.
However, getting to Durant proved to be a story of its own. Trump was scheduled to travel from Denton, Texas, to Durant by aircraft following an appearance at a Peterbilt Motors facility. Severe weather, however, prevented the plane and helicopter from safely making the trip into Oklahoma.
Rather than cancel the appearance, Trump said he asked how quickly his presidential limousine, known as “The Beast,” could make the approximately 85-mile trip. The answer was close to 100 mph.
Trump informed the rally that he told the motorcade that they were still taking the trip. His response made the crowd cheer with enthusiasm.
“Get your asses in that car, we’re going to Oklahoma,” Trump told the crowd.
. The presidential motorcade made the trip through stormy conditions, with a press vehicle traveling with the motorcade reaching 98 mph at one point.
Trump himself posted during the journey that “The Beast” was going faster than it had ever gone before. Trump ultimately arrived at the Choctaw Event Center shortly after 7 p.m., nearly two hours later than his originally scheduled appearance.
The delay did little to diminish the crowd, which had waited through the weather to see the president. The auditorium was packed with several thousand people, many wearing red hats and other Trump campaign gear.
Before Trump took the stage, the crowd heard from a lineup of Republican candidates and officials, including Oklahoma gubernatorial candidate Mike Mazzei and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin. Mazzei used his time before the president to thank law enforcement, the Choctaw Nation and those who had gathered. He spoke about his vision for Oklahoma, including jobs, education, roads and health care, while emphasizing faith, family, community and service.
Mazzei also credited Trump with inspiring his decision to seek the governor's office and outlined his conservative agenda, including his stated goal of eliminating Oklahoma's state income tax and ending property taxes for seniors and veterans.
Mullin, an Oklahoma native and former U.S. senator from the state, also addressed the crowd, speaking about his experience serving in Trump's administration and his belief that the president remains focused on strengthening the country and advancing his agenda.
The event also featured other Republican candidates and political figures, making the Durant rally as much a showcase of the state's Republican ticket as it was a presidential appearance. Among those attending was former NBA star Rodman, who received recognition from Trump. Rodman's appearance drew particular attention because of his past relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.Trump referred to Rodman as a longtime friend and praised him as one of the greatest rebounders in basketball.
For local lawmakers, however, the significance of the evening went beyond campaign politics. State Rep. Josh Cantrell said having a sitting president make the trip to rural Oklahoma was an important moment for the region.
Cantrell said it was an exciting time for southeastern Oklahoma and emphasized that, with the president facing an extraordinarily busy schedule, his decision to reach out and personally visit the area was a great honor.
The appearance also carried significance because the rally was held on Choctaw Nation land, making Trump's visit another high-profile presidential stop in a region that does not typically see the level of national political attention associated with larger metropolitan areas.
Trump repeatedly returned to the coming election during his remarks, arguing that Republican voters must turn out in November. His message was less about a single candidate than the Republican ticket as a whole.
He urged supporters to elect Republicans and portrayed the midterm elections as a referendum on his administration and its agenda. For Oklahoma Republicans, that message was delivered in a state where Trump remains enormously popular.
For Durant, it was a night that put the community squarely in the national political spotlight. The rain, the delayed arrival and the unexpected highspeed motorcade became part of the spectacle, but the central message remained the same: Trump wants Republicans at the polls in November. For several hours Thursday night, thousands of Oklahoma voters gathered in Durant to hear that message directly from the president.