Former President Donald Trump is expected to come to Erie for a rally Sunday September 29, Erie News Now has learned from multiple sources.
We're told he will speak at the Bayfront Convention Center. Details on the time and tickets have not yet been released, but the visit is expected to come in the late afternoon and early evening hours.
Since the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump has rallied supporters in Erie four times. Three of those times the Trump events were held at Erie Insurance Arena. The arena was not available for this visit, because it follows the Saturday night home opening of the Erie Otters hockey team.
One visit was at Erie International Airport. For that, those who attended parked at Waldameer Park and were shuttled in to an airport hanger by buses.
For this visit, sources say the security perimeter is expected to be wide and security to be tight, following two assassination attempts on the former president's life. That may mean parking is restricted at the convention center.
Sources confirm that local, state and federal law enforcement officials met on Wednesday afternoon, to begin discussing security needs and responsibilities for Sunday. They will still need to meet with Trump campaign officials on details and logistics once the campaign event details are finalized.
Officials with knowledge of the Trump visit declined to talk on camera until the Trump campaign releases details on the Donald J. Trump website.
Erie County Republican Party chair, Tom Eddy was willing to comment. He said he likes the timing of the visit. "I think it's important the day he's coming," Eddy said. "It's just before the mail in ballots come out. Obviously he's trying to generate excitement and votes and it's the first time they can vote," he added.
The GOP chair also said, if people are interested in attending the Erie rally this Sunday, they should plan to go early. "The convention center is obviously not the ice rink where you can get 10-11 thousand people, so there's going to be a cut off. Sooner or later they're going to say that's enough, no more's allowed to go in. So you've got to be there early and just have fun. I've been to a number of these rallies before and everybody just seems to have a good time."
As part of his presidential campaign, Trump is scheduled to make two stops in Michigan on Friday and travel to Wisconsin for a rally on Saturday, according to his campaign website. He will also return to the Butler farm show fairgrounds for a rally Saturday October 5.
His running mate, Sen. JD Vance, spoke at Team Hardinger in Erie on Aug. 28.
Democratic opponent Kamala Harris is campaigning in Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon.
Her running mate Gov. Tim Walz came to town on Sept. 5 to address supporters during a rally at Liberty Park.