Trump Rally in Conroe Could Hurt
Turnout for Junior Tour in Houston

Capitol Inside
January 15, 2022

Donald Trump could be crossing paths with his oldest son two weeks from now when they will be staging separate events in the Houston area where Republicans from Texas and beyond have a rare opportunity to spend the entire day and evening with the former first family.

The Texas Republican Party has been promoting the American Freedom Tour for the past week with Donald Trump Jr. heading an all-star cast of celebrities on the far right at an event that's set to take place from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. on January 29 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in the heart of the Bayou City.

That will give Trump fans time for a quick dinner or drink or both before an hour long drive to the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in Conroe where the ex-president has a rally set to get under way at 7 p.m. on the same day later this month.

"Donald Trump Jr. is coming to Houston this month, and he wants to make sure you get your ticket before they all sell out," Texas GOP said in an email on Saturday.

But the elder Trump who Democratic President Joe Biden ousted in the 2020 election could be upstaging the son who's named after him by giving supporters a choice on which of the two Trumps they'd prefer to see the most if they don't have the luxury of devoting an entire morning, afternoon and evening events with the rally and freedom crusade.

The larger the turnout for the nation's former leader in Conroe, the smaller the potential crowd at the Trump Jr. extravaganza at a time when the outside competition will be significant with pop star singer JoJo Siwa slated to perform at a concert on the same night at the Toyota Center. Professional football followers - however - could attend both Trump events in the state's largest metropolitan area without having to miss out on either NFL conference championship game that will be played on the following day to determine the Super Bowl lineup.

Diehard conservatives who love the National Basketball Association as well wouldn't have to miss any home games if they want to rally with the former president in Conroe in light of the fact that the Houston Rockets play the night before in a duel with the Portland Trailblazers.

The Trump Jr. caravan will also feature the ex-president's last press secretary in Kayleigh McEnany, anti-immigrant Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, television judge Jeanine Pirro and right-wing conspiracy theorist Dinesh D'Souza.

Tickets can be purchased online at prices as low as $25 for general admission seating and up to $1,995 for Platinum level privileges that include photo ops with the younger Trump, seats in front of the stage and "exclusive access to the presidential lounge" at the massive facility on the edge of downtown.

VIP tickets are available for $395 with perks that include a reception with Trump Jr. and breakfast with D'Souza, an Indian-American immigrant who was born in Bombay, complete with a question and answer session as an added treat. The early morning Q&A will be open to Platinum ticket holders as well.

The American Freedom Tour sponsors are having a buy one get one free sale on tickets that are priced at the executive level of $95 or higher. Trump family admirers who fork over less than $100 for tickets will get a tour wristband at no extra cost. Platinum access is the only option that comes with an official tour t-shirt.

The Houston area offers the best of both worlds as far as local support. Biden beat Trump by 13 points in Harris County with 56 percent of the vote in 2020. But Trump cut his losses in that particular metro when he crushed Biden in Montgomery County with 71 percent of the vote in the most recent White House election.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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