Locals Get Front Row Seat for Trump’s Campaign Stop in Austin

A delegation from the Fayette County Republican Party traveled to Austin last Friday for a private campaign event with former President Donald Trump.

Trump was in Austin to record a three-hour interview on the Joe Rogan Show. After the interview with Rogan, Trump spoke to a group of about 200 local Republican Party leaders from across Texas.

Fayette County Republican Party Chairman Michael Schlabach said he and several local precinct chairs received an invitation to the event the day before. Joining him on the trip to Austin were Fayette County Republican Precinct Chairs Joe Jameson, Kimberly Rutledge, William Bernsen, and Katheryn Geesaman.

“We were there the earliest, so we got to be right on the front row,” Schlabach said. “The people standing next to us were the Texas Land Commissioner, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, Senator Ted Cruz, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Sid Miller (Texas Agriculture Commissioner).”

Trump’s speech at the event lasted about 45 minutes. A large contingent of off-duty border security officers accompanied him on stage. His talk centered on border security.

The event took place inside a hangar at the Austin airport. Schlabach said security was on high alert due to the recent attempts on Trump’s life.

“He had Secret Service all around him,” he said. “Security was very tight.”

Schlabach said Trump was on a tight schedule and flew out of Austin right after the speech.