On October 2o, 2024, Ben Bergquam, a correspondent for Real America’s Voice, took to the streets of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, ahead of the Trump rally there the following day. Bergquam filmed at night, capturing a vivid snapshot of political sentiment. His X post and commentary reflect a scene where the MAGA (Make America Great Again) ethos has become a counterculture movement, especially stark against the backdrop of Lancaster’s public spaces and monuments.
Bergquam’s post and on-the-ground commentary illustrate an interchange between Trump supporters and what he refers to as “libtards” or liberal protestors. In his depiction, Lancaster’s night was alive with Trump supporters, predominantly Black individuals, proudly displaying MAGA gear and signs, indicating a robust support base for Trump’s policies, particularly around economic issues like lower taxes.
This enthusiasm was met with a minimal counter-protest- which is a stark difference from the years past when supporters of Trump’s showed their support against seething protestors by the thousands.
The scene Bergquam documented underscores a cultural and political divide. On one side, there’s a fervent support for Trump, seen as a champion for economic policies beneficial to the working class, wrapped in patriotic fervor. On the other, a small but vocal opposition uses personal attacks or provocative signs, aiming to challenge Trump’s character rather than engaging in policy debate.
This nighttime stroll through Lancaster, as portrayed by Bergquam, shows the ongoing cultural and political battle lines in America, where streets at night can become stages for this ideological theater, with each side deeply entrenched in their beliefs. Even casual street encounters have become charged with the electricity of national political discourse ahead of the 2024 election as more nontraditional Republican voters get skin in the game.