The Gospel of Trump and His Disciples

By Jacob Clavijo – Staff Writer

While former President Donald Trump has been rallying in battleground states, his campaign has deployed a unique outreach effort in Lynchburg, Virginia, aimed at courting swing voters.

A group of local supporters gathered at the vacant Billy Craft Honda dealership on Old Forest Road for the “Virginians for Trump” event. The gathering featured a recreational vehicle showcasing Trump-themed merchandise, offering attendees the chance to snap social media profile-worthy photos.

Virginians for Trump recreational vehicle. Photo by Jacob Clavijo

 Jim McKelvey, the owner of the vehicle, says that he travels the entire state of Virginia selling signage to those looking to support the former president.

“What we do is we want to see his name everywhere,” said McKelvey. “We travel the whole state spreading the word of Trump.” 

Supporters were fired up about the election as they approached the merchandise table. Caden Lavalley, a proud Trump supporter and Liberty University student, expressed discontent with his poor decision to purchase a new pickup truck, a vehicle known for its lack of fuel efficiency. 

“Everything is super high,” said Lavalley. “I bought a truck and it cost me $80 to fill it up.” 

Lavalley also noted the importance of this year’s election, calling it “the most important election in American history, hands down.” Lavalley also forgot that President Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race in July.

“We can’t handle four more years of Biden,” Lavalley said.

Caden Lavalley and his yard sign. Photo by Jacob Clavijo

Recent polling shows that former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, are deadlocked heading into the final week before the election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. Voter turnout has become a critical issue for both Republicans and Democrats, with both candidates urging their supporters to vote early, even though the Republican candidate keeps indicating that there is voter fraud with early voting.

In addition to selling Trump merchandise, which McKelvey claimed is not actually sold but rather given to people in exchange for donations, volunteers spent time encouraging everyone to vote.

Bo Blair engaging with potential voters. Photo by Jacob Clavijo

“Our mission is to get people energized and enthused to vote and save our country, to take our country back,” said Bo Blair, a volunteer with Virginians for Trump. 

Blair did not say what Trump supporters were taking the country back from but added that undecided voters must pay attention to policy differences between the two candidates and that the difference in gas and grocery prices now versus four years ago should be enough to sway voters to Trump. 

“Are you better off today than you were four years ago? and be honest with yourself,” said Blair, who appeared to conflate increased gas prices with President Biden’s policies.

“$2 gas was great when Trump was in,” Lavalley remarked.

Of note is that these Trump supporters seem to have forgotten that four years ago, the country was now emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic that killed 467,407 Americans in the first year, gas prices were $3.30, and the unemployment rate was 6.3 percent.
As President Biden wraps up his term, the average gas price nationally is $3.13; the unemployment rate is 4.1 percent; COVID-19 vaccines are easily accessible, and deaths in 2024 number 40,000.

Jim McKelvey poses proudly with his recreational vehicle. Photo by Jacob Clavijo

The support for Trump in Central Virginia is strong, especially in rural areas like Lynchburg and its surrounding areas. His supporters respect him for taking on two jobs–McDonald’s fry cook and Joe Rogan podcast guest–while also running for the highest political seat in America. 

Trump supporters have unwavering loyalty, especially those who have paid tens of thousands for a recreational vehicle wrapped with the candidate’s face on it.

“The day after the election,  it’s for sale,” McKelvey said about his recreational vehicle.

So, loyalty has its limits and a price.For more information on the upcoming election, visit Vote.org.