President Donald Trump hit the de facto campaign trail, holding a rally in El Paso. However, this time around former Democratic Congressman Beto O’Rourke gathered thousands of his own supporters to denounce President Trump and his border policies. O’Rourke was born in El Paso, making the border town his home turf, and he was apparently ready to defend it.
The massive rallies highlighted just how divided America is. The rallies were held just a block away. Yet in terms of content, they were worlds apart. Trump’s supporters were largely clad in MAGA gear, chanting U-S-A in support of President Trump’s border wall.
Meanwhile, Beto O’Rourke let a mariachi band serenade his crowd before taking to the podium to lambaste Trump and his border wall. Trump had been in town to promote his proposed border wall, among other things, but many Texas politicians, both Democrat and Republican, have pushed back.
The events were so contentious that a BBC cameraman was assaulted by a Trump rally attendee. The attack came after the president had repeatedly lambasted the media for allegedly being biased.
Meanwhile, O’Rourke was in campaign mode himself, rallying crowds while many speculate he could run for the U.S. presidency. O’Rourke had lost a hard-fought Senate contest with Ted Cruz. He was barely edged out in a state that is typically solid red. Trump referenced O’Rourke’s failed efforts, arguing: “A young man who’s got very little going for himself except he’s got a great first name, he challenged us. I would say that may be the end of his presidential bid.”
