By Okon Ekpenyong

On Saturday, October 24, 2020, Circleville, Ohio, welcomed the President of the United States of American, Donald J Trump, at the Pickaway County fair. The city is known for hosting the Circleville Pumpkin Show every October, but the event did not go on this year due to the Coronavirus pandemic. One of the best Christian Colleges in the country, Ohio Christian University, is based in the city. Manufacturing is the municipality’s bread and butter. Having such companies as PPG Industries, Dupont, and Sofidel Group truly put the town on the map.

The PPG industries Circleville plants make resin production used for automotive applications. Dupont is one of the world’s largest chemical companies, and it has the largest plant in Ohio. The Sofidel Group is one of the world’s largest tissue paper manufacturers.

Highlighting or naming several manufacturing sectors in the city is important because President Trump continuously talks about getting people back to work, especially in a year of much uncertainty. The campaign stop in Circleville was one of three rallies for the President that day.

The 74 years old President recently contracted COVID-19 and was briefly hospitalized. “I happened to test (positive), you know why? I can’t stay in a basement, I’m strong, I have to meet people,” Trump said. Pickaway County has recorded over three thousand two hundred twenty-two COVID-19 cases and lost forty-six lives. Just two days before Trump’s visit, the Ohio Public Health Advisory System shows that Pickaway County was under Level 2 (increased exposure and spread).

President Trump blamed the ‘fake news media’ for their 24/7 coverages of Pandemic, saying, “They always talk about cases…the mortality rate is down 85%, it’s incredible.”

The U.S has indeed conducted more coronavirus tests than any other country, but the world’s mortality rate is the highest. “You have to lead your life; you have to get out. Be vigilant, be careful, social distance, put the mask on,” said Trump. He did encourage people to take it seriously, and temperature check-up is a requirement when you attend one of his campaigns.

However, studies show that many people carry the virus, and the temperature gauge did not show that they had a high fever, and that may scream for concern. The President did not call it Coronavirus, instead referring to it as “China Virus” continuously. The phrase “China virus” has angered many Asian-American communities and others around the world. Trump praised his administration and task force for working tirelessly to create the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. He also said that despite the rise of COVID, he would not shut down the country again to prevent another economic crisis.

Yes, he could not stop calling Senator Kamala Harris, the most liberal senator, and continuously predicted that if Biden is elected, he failed to accomplish anything during his forty-seven years as an elected official. Also, under President Obama’s administration, Biden did not show up either, so “what makes you think as a President he would,” and the crowds chanted, “four more years.”

President Trump promised to protect the 2nd Amendment rights to keep and bear arms and continue on his promise to build the wall and stop the illegal immigrants from coming in. He vows to provide more funding to the Law enforcement agencies and encourages his supporters that voting for local candidates is also essential. Not just vote but ensuring that those representatives fight for our law and orders.

“I support Trump because he loves America, and he focuses on caring for its citizens first rather than worrying about other countries,” one of Trump’s supporters said. Other Trump supporters encouraged those undecided voters to research each candidate rather than listen to fake news if they want to look for what’s real and what’s not. When asked what’s one of the negative things about the President, they wish he changed? “He could work on his tone just a little, but a doubt that would ever happened,” and they all laughed.

Outside of Pickaway county fair, there were national guards deployed to help de-escalate tensions between Trump supporters and those that oppose his views. But what stood the most was the amount of President Trump’s merchandise lining down on both sides of the streets. Trump’s merchandise has outsold all of Biden’s combined. Make American Great Again hats are the best-selling items grossing a total of 12,759 units per month. T-shirts, tank tops, sweatshirts, and Trump’s flags are other hot selling units. So, for vendors and Trump’s supporters looking to capitalize on his presidency, selling MAGA might be one of the ways to go.