MACON, Ga. — As the 2024 election cycle comes to a close, both presidential candidates made stops in Georgia.
Former President Donald Trump spoke in front of a packed Atrium Health Amphitheater crowd immediately after a rally in North Carolina Sunday. Before Trump got on-stage — and before he was even in the state — several politicians and celebrities took the stage.
State Sen. John Kennedy (Macon)
State Sen. John Kennedy led the crowd in prayer, but also gave some remarks. The state senator criticized Vice President Kamala Harris' controversial October comments, when some say she told people they were at the wrong rally. Kennedy also thanked the crowd for coming out, calling Georgia the "greatest state in the nation." He said he and former President Donald Trump are committed to lowering costs for families and increasing opportunities for Georgians.
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper
"Agriculture is national security, period," Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said when he walked onto the stage. "I don't want to rely on someone else to provide our food."
Harper said under President Joe Biden's leadership, farm income has declined, leading to the nation importing more food than it exports. He said that drives food prices up. Harper finished his remarks saying protecting agriculture is key, and Trump understands how to do it.
Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (Rome)
When Marjorie Taylor Greene walked onto the stage, she spoke of fond memories growing up in Central Georgia. Born in Milledgeville and spending part of her childhood in Macon, the Rome congresswoman is no stranger to the area.
"This is our home," she said.
Greene slammed Democrats for name-calling and for COVID-19 era shutdowns. She also called Democratic bills in Congress aimed at safeguarding abortion "radical" and "barbaric." Greene told the crowd Trump would bring stability on the world stage and at home.
"We're looking at a future of wide-open borders, a future of high taxes, a future that includes World War III," she said of a future if Harris wins the White House.
Greene continued, talking about her first Trump rally that happened to be in Macon. She said she, along with others in the crowd, was emotional about what could be Trump's final campaign coming to an end.
"This is not the end of the MAGA movement," she said.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders
"When the president named me his White House press secretary, I was the very first mom and only the third woman to ever hold that job," Arkansas governor and former White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said.
Sanders told a few stories about her relationship with the former president, like when he reassured her she was doing her job well as reporters pressed her for answers during Trump's time in the White House. She said Trump cares about empowering women. She said Trump defended her and gave her confidence to do her job.
Sanders closed with a story about going on a trip to western Iraq to meet with soldiers. They didn't know Trump was coming to see them, and she spoke about their reactions landing in war-torn western Iraq.
Sen. Marco Rubio (Florida)
Sen. Marco Rubio criticized Democrats and news media, arguing they are suppressing Republican voters in an effort to keep Trump out of the White House. He pointed to Harris' appearance on "Saturday Night Live" as proof before bashing the Harris campaign booking celebrities at rallies, and criticizing Harris' laugh.
Rubio told the story of his parents coming to the United States from Cuba in the 1950s. He criticized the Biden-Harris administration's border policies.
"It was the only place in the world where anyone from anywhere could achieve anything by working hard and playing by the rules," he said. "It's what propelled me to want to serve in public office."
Rubio said he believes Trump will create a government that puts Americans before anything, and that his goal is straightforward: To 'Make America Great Again.'
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones
Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said he was recently in Macon to see Jason Aldean perform at the Atrium Health Amphitheater. He told the story of how he, Aldean and Trump raised $7 million for hurricane victims.
"Our state was hit hard," he said.
Jones also criticized Biden remarks where he appeared to call Trump's supporter's "garbage." He argued that's not the case, and that Trump's supporters are people who love a closed border, cheap gas and groceries, and who love the United States.
Herschel Walker
Most Georgians know Herschel Walker. The Wrightsville native and University of Georgia football star said he met Trump 40 years ago. Walker said when they met, Trump loved his family and country, and they became friends. Decades later, he said, that hasn't changed.
Walker went on, praising Trump for his work on the economy, immigration and crime rates while in office. Walker said Trump is "cut from the same cloth" as the United States' founding fathers and those serving in the military.
"Our founding fathers risked everything when they stood up to the king. The men and women in our military sacrificed their lives to help protect what our founding fathers gave us," he said.
Walker continued with remarks about the Biden-Harris administration's border policies which he blamed for Laken Riley's death on the University of Georgia campus earlier this year. He closed asking those in attendance to head to the polls Tuesday: "We need to have Donald Trump's back, because he's got our back."
Who headlines Harris rallies?
Vice President Harris has had a slate of celebrities headlining her rallies on the campaign trail. Last month, Beyoncé endorsed Harris at a rally in Houston. Just before that, former President Barack Obama and Bruce Springsteen headlined a rally in Dekalb County.
According to an event website for Harris' Monday night rally in Philadelphia, the lineup will feature stars like Oprah Winfrey, with Lady Gaga and The Roots performing sets on-stage.