Video of People 'Leaving Early' From Trump Rally Questioned
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
A viral video claiming to show attendees leaving early at a President Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Friday has sparked debate online.
Why It Matters
On multiple occasions in the past, people have posted videos to X, formerly Twitter, claiming to show people leaving Trump rallies early. But the latest video has come under scrutiny, even from the president's critics.
Trump has long been known for his tendency to exaggerate crowd sizes at his rallies and public events, a pattern that dates back to his very first days in office.
President Donald Trump dances after speaking at the U.S. Steel Mon Valley Works-Irvin plant on May 30, 2025, in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.
President Donald Trump dances after speaking at the U.S. Steel Mon Valley Works-Irvin plant on May 30, 2025, in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.
David Dermer/AP
What To Know
The video, shared by the left-leaning account Patriot Takes, shows a group of four people appearing to exit Trump's rally in Pennsylvania on Friday before it had concluded.
However, viewers and commenters on social media quickly pointed out that the footage captures only a tiny fraction of the audience.
"I can't stand him, but come on, it was like four people," X user Rick Dorris wrote.
Several other observers suggested that the individuals might simply be stepping out for a restroom break or refreshments rather than leaving altogether.
Other images and videos from the same rally depict large crowds, reinforcing the notion that the majority of attendees stayed throughout the event.
There have, however, been instances of larger numbers of people leaving early from Trump rallies in the past. Last year, there were multiple reports and videos of noticeable early exits at various Trump events.
In one instance, a video posted to X appeared to show a small group of people leaving a Trump rally in November 2024.
Washington Examiner reporter Samantha-Jo Roth, who posted the video, wrote, "In case anyone is wondering, there are in fact people leaving Trump's rally early. To be fair, many of them have been here since the AM." The post accumulated over 22,000 views.
The host of ABC News' If You're Listening show Matt Bevan also shared videos from a Trump rally in Detroit, which he posted on November 1.
He wrote, "Went to a little event in Detroit. Despite Trump's claim that nobody leaves early, many people left early. From about 25 minutes into his speech, there was a steady stream."
In the comments, he added, "I should note, everyone in the room had been there for two hours before he came on."
He also wrote that Trump was scheduled to come on at 4:30 and came on at around 4:45, and "people started leaving about 5:10-5:15."
Meanwhile, in October 2024, former Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign shared a video on Truth Social of a Trump rally in Michigan, showing one crowded section and a larger empty area, mocking him over crowd size.
"Trump: No one else can fill this place up (The room is mostly empty)," the Harris campaign wrote.
Throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, rally crowd sizes and attendance were a point of contention between Trump and Harris, with the Republican frequently boasting about his turnout and jabbing Harris' while the then vice president countered by highlighting people leaving his rallies or empty sections. In September, The New York Times analyzed six rallies in August, finding that both candidates drew similar audience sizes.
The Times analysis also found that of those six rallies, Trump spoke four times as long as Harris, writing that the longer duration of his rallies could contribute to the higher number of people leaving early, as based on photographs.
The former president previously addressed the comments that supporters were appearing to leave his rallies early.
At an event with broadcaster Tucker Carlson in Glendale, Arizona, in October, Trump said, "They don't leave and they're really well-attended, we can't get places big enough."
In September, Trump also said to a rally crowd in Walker, Michigan, "The people that you see leaving—because nobody ever leaves, and when they do, I finish up quick, believe me."
What People Are Saying
One X user commented: "Even as a Trump hater, I think these kinds of posts are useless, as evidenced in Nov. 24. You couldn't find him filling any arena, yet he won. Focus on the issues themselves and don't let the chuds pretend they care about working class."
What Happens Next
The White House has not yet commented on the video.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hamilton Spectator
13 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Unjustified and unlawful': Canadian officials react to Trump's threat to double steel, aluminum tariffs
The federal minister tasked with Canada-U. S. trade relations said Ottawa has 'taken note' of U.S. President Donald Trump's latest threat to increase tariffs on steel and aluminum to 50 per cent , but stopped short of announcing any formal retaliatory measures, at least for now. Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister whose portfolio includes Canada-U. S. trade, said in a statement on the social media platform X Saturday that the government will remain 'resolute in defending our workers and our communities.' 'We can give ourselves far more than the United States can take from us,' he wrote. We can give ourselves far more than the United States can take from us. That's why this Monday, the Prime Minister will meet with Premiers in Saskatoon with one goal - build one Canadian economy out of thirteen, and get big, nation-building projects built faster. (2/3) In a speech in Pennsylvania Friday, Trump said that the increased tariff figures would 'even further secure the steel industry in the United States.' 'Nobody's going to get around that,' Trump said. Industry minister Mélanie Joly, who formerly served as foreign minister, said that Canada is 'fighting' the 'unjustified and unlawful tariffs with our own retaliatory actions, strong domestic support packages, and big moves to diversify our trade.' President Donald Trump says he's going to double the tariff rate on steel to 50 per cent, a dramatic increase that could further push up prices for a metal used to make housing, autos and other goods. (AP Video / May 30, 2025) She added that she plans to meet with steel and aluminum producers and workers over the coming days to 'advance' a plan in response to Trump's pledge. Terry Sheehan, the Liberal MP who represents the steel-dependent riding of Sault Ste. Marie , wrote that the government will 'not back down' in the face of tariffs that 'threaten to further damage the vital relationship between our two countries.' Sault Ste. Marie's mayor, Matthew Shoemaker, said Trump is 'trying to cripple our economy.' Maninder Sidhu, the newly minted minister of international trade, wrote that the government will 'move on terms … strategically, thoughtfully, and without delay.' Sidhu, a Brampton MP first elected in 2019, said that 'trade diversification' is his 'top priority.' 'Canada has what the world needs and we're ready to deliver,' Sidhu wrote. Meanwhile, United Steelworkers, which represents over 220,000 workers in Canada, said that the 50 per cent tariff would 'completely shut us out of the U.S. market' and called on the government to 'move quickly to strengthen domestic demand.' In March, U.S. President Donald Trump put 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 'This isn't trade policy — it's a direct attack on Canadian industries and workers,' national director Marty Warren said of the president's recent announcement. 'Thousands of Canadian jobs are on the line and communities that rely on steel and aluminum are being put at risk. Canada needs to respond immediately and decisively to defend workers.' The Canadian Steel Producers Association, a trade group, said in a statement that the government must immediately 'fully reinstate retaliatory steel tariffs to match the American tariffs and to implement as quickly as possible new tariffs at our own borders to stop unfairly traded steel from entering Canada.' In March, Trump put 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to the United States. Trump used Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to impose steel and aluminum duties and said it will help bring manufacturing back to the United States. Canada is the largest steel supplier to the United States, accounting for nearly 25 per cent of all imports in 2023. About a quarter of all steel used in America is imported. Earlier this week, a three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of International Trade ruled Trump does not have the authority to wield tariffs, a pause that was subsequently lifted by a federal appeals court Thursday. A Leger poll from earlier this month found that nearly 70 per cent of Canadians are in favour of the federal government imposing dollar-for-dollar retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. The poll also found that Canadians are reducing the number of U.S. products they're buying in stores as a result of the ongoing trade war. With files from The Canadian Press
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
China 'firmly rejects' US claim that it violated tariff deal
China said Monday it "firmly rejects" US claims that it had violated a sweeping tariffs deal, as tensions between the two economic superpowers showed signs of ratcheting back up. Beijing and Washington last month agreed to slash staggeringly high tariffs on each other for 90 days after talks between top officials in Geneva. But top Washington officials last week accused China of violating the deal, with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick saying Beijing was "slow-rolling" the agreement in comments to "Fox News Sunday". China hit back Monday, saying Washington "has made bogus charges and unreasonably accused China of violating the consensus, which is seriously contrary to the facts". "China firmly rejects these unreasonable accusations," its commerce ministry said in a statement. US President Donald Trump said last week that China had "totally violated" the deal, without providing details. Beijing's commerce ministry said it "has been firm in safeguarding its rights and interests, and sincere in implementing the consensus". It fired back that Washington "has successively introduced a number of discriminatory restrictive measures against China" since the Geneva talks. The ministry cited export controls on artificial intelligence chips, curbs on the sale of chip design software and the revocation of Chinese student visas in the United States. "We urge the US to meet China halfway, immediately correct its wrongful actions, and jointly uphold the consensus from the Geneva trade talks," the ministry said. If not, "China will continue to resolutely take strong measures to uphold its legitimate rights and interests," it added. - Trump-Xi talks? - US officials have said they are frustrated by what they see as Chinese foot-dragging on approving export licences for rare earths and other elements needed to make cars and chips. But Washington's Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent looked to ease the pressure on Sunday, saying the two sides could arrange a call between their respective heads of state to resolve their differences. "I'm confident... this will be ironed out" in a call between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Bessent said on CBS's "Face the Nation". He added, however, that China was "withholding some of the products that they agreed to release", including rare earths. On when a Trump-Xi call could take place, Bessent said: "I believe we will see something very soon." China has been less forthcoming, and the commerce ministry's statement on Monday did not mention any planned conversations between the two leaders. The Geneva deal was "an important consensus reached by the two sides on the principle of mutual respect and equality, and its results were hard-won", the ministry said. It warned Washington against "going its own way and continuing to harm China's interests". Global stocks finished mixed on Friday after Trump made his social media post accusing Beijing. The Hong Kong stock exchange was down around 2 percent shortly after opening on Monday. mjw/je/rsc
Yahoo
42 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Six Injured in Colorado Attack, Which FBI is Investigating as ‘Act of Terrorism'
Six people were injured and some may have been burned at an outdoor mall in Boulder, Colorado, authorities said on Sunday. A man was taken into custody in the attack at 13th and Pearl Street, a popular pedestrian mall downtown, police said. FBI agents are also investigating what the agency has described as a 'targeted terror attack.' A male suspect, identified as Mohamed Sabry Soliman, is in custody. All six victims, ranging in age from 67 to 88, have been transported to hospitals where they remain after the suspect threw 'an incendiary device' into the crowd, Mark Michalek, the special agent in charge of the Denver field office, said at a Sunday evening press conference. The suspect could be heard shouting 'Free Palestine,' Michalek said. No charges were immediately filed, but District Attorney Michael Dougherty said the attacker would be held 'fully accountable.' More from Rolling Stone The Supreme Court's Latest Gift to Trump Will Be 'Disastrous' for the Environment 'Disturbing': Dems Question Kash Patel's FBI Leadership at Testy Hearing Trump Issues Executive Order Ramping Up American Police State 'A man was throwing Molotov cocktails and using devices to hurt people,' Boulder Police Chief Steven Redfearn said. At least one of the victims is in serious, possibly critical condition, he said. A group of walkers participating in a Run for Their Lives event were among the people gathered on Pearl Street. The series of events are 'calling for the immediate release of the hostages held by Hamas,' according to its website. 'This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts. We will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it,' Dan Bongino, Deputy Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation said via social media. The incident occurred around 1:26 p.m., when Boulder police dispatch received several calls reporting there was 'a man with a weapon and that people were being set on fire,' Redfearn said in an earlier afternoon press conference. When police arrived on scene there were 'multiple victims' with 'injuries consistent with burns' and other injuries, which range from minor to very serious, he said. The male suspect was pointed out and was taken into custody without incident, Redfearns said, and was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. During the earlier press conference, Redfearn noted that there was a group of pro-Israel people who were holding a 'peaceful demonstration,' which 'happens frequently' in the area. Redfearn said at that time that it was too soon to determine motive. 'It would be irresponsible of me to speculate on motive this early on,' while they were still interviewing witnesses. The scene itself had been contained, Redfearns said, and police were investigating a 'vehicle of interest' in the area. Several blocks around the outdoor mall had been evacuated. 'We are aware of and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available,' FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media Sunday afternoon. The attack comes more than a week after two Israeli embassy staffers were fatally shot outside the Capital Jewish Museum. Israel's war in Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023 when Hamas led attacks in Southern Israel, including attendees of the Supernova Festival, killing more than 1,200 civilians and abducted 251 hostages. There are 58 hostages still being held, it is unclear how many are alive, after many of the others were released following ceasefire agreements and other deals. As The Associated Press reports, Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 people in Gaza, mostly women and children per Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not identify how many were civilians or combatants. Best of Rolling Stone Every Super Bowl Halftime Show, Ranked From Worst to Best The United States of Weed Gaming Levels Up
