ASHEBORO, N.C. — Officials are preparing for former president Donald Trump to make a campaign stop in Asheboro on Wednesday.
The event will take place at the North Carolina Aviation Museum and Hall of Fame at 2 p.m. Doors open at 11 a.m.
News of Trump coming to the Triad broke over the weekend. The museum said the plans are coming together quickly, but the event will be a success.
For those familiar with the museum, the standard parking lot will not be used for attendee parking. Instead, when people get off of Highway 49 they will be directed on where to park. Attendees will park at the museum's entrance normally used for fly-ins or special events along Tot Hill Farm Rd.
Wayne Broome is the museum's chairman of the board of directors. Broome said secret service is handling most of the security. Asheboro police and Randolph County deputies are helping too.
"They've checked everything from all the buildings to all the fences. They'll do at least another very in-depth security sweep that will be the day before," Broome explained. "Then when people come in in the morning, parking will be a couple hundred yards out at least. Everybody will walk through and have to go through a magnetometer."
Broome said this is the biggest event the museum has ever hosted. He compared it to the rally that happened a few years ago when Donald Trump Jr. came.
Trump merchandise tents have popped up near the venue. While WFMY News 2 was there, several people came out to shop.
"Most people that I've had today ordered their stuff off of other sites to try to get it, but it's not going to be here on time. So, they came by us to get it prior to the rally," explained Donald Clayton, Trump merchandise vendor.
Asheboro released the following statement on behalf of Mayor David Smith:
“It’s always an honor to host the president or the former presidents when they come to town, no matter what political party you belong to,” Smith continued, “We’re all Americans and after the campaign season, we have to work together to accomplish our city, state and national goals.”
This is Trump's third visit to North Carolina in the past month. He spoke in Charlotte on July 24 and in Asheville on Aug. 14.
List of prohibited items:
- Aerosols
- Ammunition
- Animals other than service/guide animals
- Backpacks and bags exceeding size restrictions (18” by 13” by 7”)
- Balloons
- Bicycles
- Coolers
- Drones and other unmanned aircraft systems
- Explosives
- Firearms
- Flammable liquids
- Glass, thermal, or metal containers
- Laser pointers
- Mace / Pepper spray
- Packages
- Range Finders
- Recreational motorized mobility devices
- Selfie Sticks
- Signs exceeding the size restrictions (20’ x 3’ x 1/4”)
- Structures
- Supports for signs and placards
- Toy guns
- Weapons of any kind