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Trump and O’Rourke’s simultaneous El Paso rallies couldn’t have been more different

By Ana Campoy
Published

Donald Trump promoted his border wall at a rally with supporters a few blocks from the Mexican border in El Paso, Texas last night (Feb. 11). Opponents, including former US representative Beto O’Rourke, staged their own demonstration across the street.

Here’s a look at the contrasts:

A MAGA stage vs. opponents’ march

Trump held his campaign-style rally at an arena adorned with massive American flags and banners emblazoned with his latest slogan: “Finish the wall.”

His opponents’ affair was more low key. O’Rourke, who’s mulling whether to run as against Trump in 2020, spoke from a more makeshift open-air stage. Supporters had to hold the American flags.

Wall-to-wall division

Trump’s main talking point while in El Paso was the urgent need for his border wall, a time-tested crowd pleaser at his rallies.

Opponents responded with their own wall rhetoric: We don’t need it.

Fans express their devotion

Both rallies attracted throngs of enthusiastic supporters. At the Trump rally, most watched from afar.

Some fans at the other rally got a chance to get up close to O’Rourke.

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