Last night, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris had a job interview for the presidency. It was in the form of a debate and it was held at the National Constitution Center. Since it was run by ABC News, they wanted a near monopoly on what media could attend inside the NCC. Virtually none with the exception of wire services and maybe the New York Times. Every other credentialed media outlet was put inside the Spin Room at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com The press filing center and Spin Room.
From there, members of the media were assigned tables from which to work. There were three reporters to a table. Over 1000 seats were available. There was WIFI but many members of the media were having issues with it.
From early morning, there was nothing to do until about 5:00 PM. Media could watch the ABC feed or surf the web, or write stories, provided they had service. Then, it happened. Politicians started to arrive. Some , like Senator Robert F. Kennedy had a swarm of media following him, others, like North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum had only a few media members around him until other media members saw what was going on and joined in.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com Robert F. Kennedy speaks with the media.
For the most part, politicians had one on one interviews with television station that had set up and paid for platforms. It was getting to those platforms that was a challenge.
As California Governor Gavon Newsome started to wrap up his interviews, his handlers hustled him out of the Spin Room as the debate was going to start. There were six projector screens and a few ABC News Presidential Debate stand up- displays . During the debate no one was in the Spin Room. Everyone was in the filing area, watching the debate.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com California Governor Gavin Newsome.
Yes, there were commercials. There were a cadre of Secret Service. That fueled speculation that JD Vance would arrive. By the end of the debate, the members of the media swarmed around the entrance eager to talk with anyone . Then, as the debate was over, it turned into bedlam.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com JD Vance navigates through a crush of reporters.
Kennedy, Burgam, Newsome all showed it. However, now each politician had a handler with a sign indicating who each person was. That was very helpful as not everyone is familiar with who is who. When PA Governor Josh Shapiro showed up, he brought a media entourage with him.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com Roy Cooper, Democratic Governor From North Carolina.
By 11:20 PM things were hopping. JD Vance showed up and members of the media scrambled to get a quote from him. Congressman Matt Gaetz from Florida was a surprise. He had a stead entourage of media members, and when he was asked about the animal remark, he simply said “Look at the 911 calls then come back to me,”..
Anthony Scaramucci, was a member of Donald Trump’s staff for less than a week. He called Trump Irresponsible and reckless. During the debate, Trump said that immigrants are eating pets in Springfield Ohio. Kamala Harris looked at him like he grew six heads when she heard that. Immediately, the internet is a blaze with memes of that remark or photos of animals. Scaramucci said that Trump was “Unhinged” for making that remark.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware valley News.com Controversial Florida Rep Matt Gaetz
About 11:30 PM, it happened. There was a mass of media pushing and shoving, Donald J. Trump had entered the building and was taking questions. It does not matter if you hate Trump or love him, that has to be respected. A man, running for President Of the United States, who was shot on July 13, 2024, walked into a room filled with people that were not searched by Secret Service. Private security did metal detector searches but that was it.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com Anthony Scaramucci called Trump “Unhinged”.
Trump walked into the lions den and took questions from the media. He had no idea what questions would be thrown at him, he stood on the floor for about 15 minutes and engaged the media. The Affordable Care Act, immigration, crime, were all topics ,
Tulsi Gabbard was one of the last people to enter the Spin Room. For unknown reasons, she has been harassed by TSA Agents after her name was added to a list for extra security when flying. Gabbard was a Congresswoman who has spoken out against the Biden Administration. when asked why she is being harassed, he response was simply “Ask Joe Biden”.
Alex Lloyd Gross Photo-Delaware Valley News.com Tulsi gabbard
Kamala Harris and Tim Walz were nowhere near the Convention Center. While Trump was engaging the media, she was boarding a flight to New York.