By MADDY VITALE
Four years after former President Donald Trump made an appearance in Wildwood while stumping for his re-election bid, he is coming back for another campaign rally.
On Saturday, the Republican presidential nominee will be in town for the “Make America Great Again!” campaign rally. The rally is scheduled for 5 p.m. on the Wildwood beach at 3601 Boardwalk near Morey’s Piers. Gates open at 12 p.m.
Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. spoke Thursday about what it will be like to have Trump back to town, what it means to the local economy and the preparation that went into it.
“I’m happy he’s coming back. I am happy to be there on the sidelines. It definitely is an economic boon and it gives our community some exposure,” Troiano said, while estimating that as many as 40,000 Trump supporters may attend the rally.
Troiano noted that there is a high level of security for the event. Also, there is a list of items rally goers are prohibited from bringing in. To view the list, click the link here: https://www.wildwoodnj.org/post/prohibited-items-for-trump-rally-5-11-24
“There are multiple agencies there handling the situation and working with the Secret Service. It is very tight, tight, tight security,” Troiano said.
The Trump campaign has paid more than $54,000 to Wildwood to cover expenses for police, fire and EMS services and public works.
On April 15, Troiano and Wildwood Commissioners Steve Mikulski and Krista McConnell signed a resolution for Donald J. Trump for President 2024, Inc. to host the beach rally.
In a joint statement, the mayor and commissioners called Trump’s scheduled rally “a great boost to our town at the start of the summer season.”
“We host hundreds of large capacity events annually, so the City is ready to welcome the crowds and looks forward to making the weekend successful for everyone,” they said in the statement.
Lisa Fagan, Wildwood’s spokeswoman, said that she anticipates that the rally will have a positive impact on tourism.
“Any events that are held in Wildwood have a positive impact on tourism. We always want to see full hotels and motels, as well as busy restaurants and storefronts,” she said.
As for preparation, the city is making sure to be fully prepared for the crowds.
“We execute hundreds of events a year – many large scale – so we are following our event protocols and working with the Trump campaign who are the event planners,” Fagan noted. “We work with them on safety, security and staging.”
In 2020, the Trump rally was “Keep America Great” and it was held at the Wildwoods Convention Center. South Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew after his November 2018 election as a Democrat, voted against Trump’s impeachment, and then switched parties. He was in attendance at the 2020 rally and is expected to be at Saturday’s rally.
Troiano said when he got back in office, he contacted Van Drew to see if Trump would return to Wildwood.
“Jeff Van Drew and I were talking and I said the invitation was certainly open and he worked on it,” Troiano said. “I got the call about eight weeks ago that he was coming and we’ve been working on it ever since.”
He noted that the rally on the beach Saturday will provide more room for the event. The annual country music festival is held in the same location and can hold 40,000 people.
Troiano said that there are those “naysayers out there” who criticize the city for allowing Trump to rally in town.
“I’m not a big fan of what’s happening in this country. I am the kind who looks at the person. I don’t vote for the party,” he said. “If (President) Joe Biden showed up, I would extend the same welcome. It’s not every day that you get to see the president.”
For a list of announcements regarding the Trump Rally visit https://www.wildwoodnj.org/announcements and to view information on Trump’s site visit www.donaldjtrump.com/events
