At a rally in Wildwood, New Jersey, Donald Trump boasted about having a bigger crowd than a Bruce Springsteen concert, claiming that Springsteen actually voted for him. Trump also expressed confidence in winning New Jersey in the upcoming election, despite the state’s Democratic stronghold since the Clinton era. A spokesperson for Wildwood estimated the crowd to be between 80,000 and 100,000 people, but footage from the rally showed an embarrassingly sparse audience, particularly in front of Trump as his speech went on.
While Trump’s supporters packed the rafters behind him, video evidence showed a sparse crowd in front of him that dwindled as his speech continued. Springsteen fans quickly fact-checked Trump’s claim by sharing clips from The Boss’ packed shows at MetLife Stadium, which has a capacity of 82,500 people. Many questioned Trump’s decision to pick a fight with Springsteen, who is highly revered in New Jersey. Springsteen had publicly urged voters to help end Trump’s presidency in 2020, calling his first term a “fucking nightmare” for America.
Reactions to Trump’s speech included disbelief at his false claims about Springsteen and insults towards the iconic singer. Some criticized Trump for his disrespectful comments about Springsteen, who is beloved in New Jersey. Many expressed confusion over Trump’s decision to target Springsteen, especially considering the singer’s influence and popularity in the state. Trump’s attempt to win over New Jersey voters by boasting about his crowd size and falsely claiming Springsteen’s support seemed to backfire as his speech was met with skepticism and criticism.
Overall, Trump’s strategy of trying to woo New Jersey voters by boasting about crowd sizes and falsely claiming Springsteen’s support during a rally in Wildwood appeared to be unsuccessful. His statements were met with fact-checking and criticism from Springsteen fans and others who questioned his decision to target the iconic singer. Despite Trump’s confidence in winning New Jersey in the upcoming election, the state’s Democratic history and Springsteen’s influence among residents may pose challenges to his reelection efforts in the region.
