Crowd cheers Trump at visit to Allentown-area PPE distributor Owens & Minor

Masks were uncommon in the crowd that greeted President Donald Trump’s motorcade at the Owens & Minor distribution plant that ships that product, among other personal protective equipment.

Some did wear “Trump 2020” masks, or coverings with flags or elephants, and a decked-out RV parked at a nearby Wawa in the morning advertised an opportunity to “GET YOUR MASK” and other gear.

The RV, covered in flags and signs, was among the pro-Trump vehicles that parked nearby or cruised around Upper Macungie Township for hours before the president’s arrival.

In his first visit as president to the Lehigh Valley, Trump toured a medical supply distributor west of Allentown. Owens & Minor is part of the White House COVID-19 Supply Chain Stabilization Task Force, and is involved in a multi-manufacturer effort to produce 600 million N95 masks, according to its website.

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A temporary digital sign on a highway leading to the plant flashed between “LEHIGH VALLEY WELCOMES PRESIDENT TRUMP” and “LET’S GET PENNSYLVANIA BACK TO WORK.” 

A cement mixer painted in an American flag theme and emblazoned with the words “KEEP AMERICA GREAT” drove around the area, and another vehicle’s driver led chants like, “U-S-A! U-S-A! Open P-A!” as the crowd assembled.

Several people held signs referencing Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor, Tom Wolf. “DON’T CRY WOLF,” read one. Another called for his impeachment, and one asked Trump to “Fire the Tyrant Wolf.”

Trump tweeted on Monday, “The great people of Pennsylvania want their freedom now, and they are fully aware of what that entails. The Democrats are moving slowly, all over the USA, for political purposes. They would wait until November 3rd if it were up to them. Don’t play politics. Be safe, move quickly!”

The same day, Wolf laid out the consequences for counties that open ahead of schedule, and said, “I don’t know how you stay safe and move quickly.”

Out of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, 24 are in the yellow phase of Wolf’s reopening plan, with 13 more set to join them Friday.

Lehigh County, where Trump visited, is still in the strictest red phase, under which large gatherings are not allowed. An enthusiastic crowd, though, packed the road outside the distribution center.

“There are so many people here,” said a woman on the phone. “It’s so cool.”

Anticipation grew as the road closed, and the lack of cruising Trump vehicles meant the president himself must be close. The crowd cheered and waved flags — some American and others “Trump 2020” — as the motorcade arrived, and then, with no rally to attend, some dispersed while others stayed to see the president off.

A man whose sign read, “WE FLIPPED PA FOR YOU PLEASE HELP US,” gave details to those remaining about a reopening protest planned for Friday in Harrisburg, advising them to get there early for a good spot.