CHEASAPEAKE, Va. — Former President Donald Trump took the stage at a campaign rally before a crowd of thousands Friday afternoon in Chesapeake, the day after sparring with President Joe Biden in the first presidential debate of the 2024 campaign season.

“As every American saw firsthand last night, this election is a choice between strength and weakness, competence and incompetence, peace and prosperity or war,” Trump told the crowd.

In a bid to help flip Virginia red, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin appeared on the same stage with Trump for the first time.

Before Trump arrived, Youngkin took to the stage around 2:20 p.m. The governor said the United States needs a new leader, citing the southern border and the economy as top-tier issues under the Biden administration.

“I had a friend who once told me that all roads lead through Hampton Roads,” Youngkin said. “(Virginians and North Carolinians) are here and (they’re) about to help elect Donald J. Trump into the White House. Yes, all roads do lead through Hampton Roads, and Joe Biden’s road to retirement is going right through Hampton Roads.”

The rally, at Historic Greenbrier Farms located just off the Chesapeake Expressway, drew thousands of supporters, many of whom started lining up for hours beforehand. Gates opened at 11 a.m. and speakers took to the stage around 2 p.m., among them former Gov. Bob McDonnell, U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans and Senate GOP candidate Hung Cao.

Traffic was snarled along the Chesapeake Expressway early in the afternoon as supporters made their way onto the 500-acre farm. Vehicles also slowed to a crawl along the backroads around the farm. Many people walked or biked alongside the backroads as traffic came to a standstill.

Inside the event space, bleachers and chairs were set up in an open area of field. American flags were set up around the perimeter. Several attendees said the security line took about two hours to clear.

Vendors inside the event sold all manner of Trump merchandise, from T-shirts with Trump’s original “Make America Great Again” slogan, to candles, baseball caps and even Trump’s newly released gold sneakers. Other items reflected more recent events. Several T-shirts on sale were emblazoned with the slogan, “I’m voting for the felon.”

Trump was convicted of 34 felony crimes last month related to a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn star who said they had sex.

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