The Trump family is right in the middle of it
Since early last year, some of the most prolific spreaders of conspiracy theories have been barnstorming across the country alongside a stacked cast of pro-Trump speakers, preachers and self-proclaimed prophets.
Each stop of the ReAwaken America Tour is part conservative Christian revival, part QAnon expo and part political rally. It features big name stars in the MAGA galaxy, including MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, Trump adviser Roger Stone and former President Donald Trump’s son, Eric. There are meet and greets, a buffet and, lately, baptisms and the casting out of demons.
The show was conceived in the months after former national security adviser Michael Flynn received a pardon from Trump. Flynn connected with Clay Clark, an Oklahoma man who had been hosting local, anti-lockdown gatherings during the pandemic. The two put on their first event in Tulsa in April 2021. The most recent stop in Pennsylvania Amish country was their 16th show together.
“Here, we go through two days of probably the best education you’re ever going to get,” Flynn told the audience.
Between stage calls, “America’s General,” as he’s known in these circles, paced through the sports complex in a suit and red, white and blue sneakers. His partner, Clark, raced on and off stage with a clipboard and the unshakeable cheerfulness of his former career as a wedding DJ, to coordinate the speaking slots of the more than 70 presenters over two days. Clark is also a podcaster who is being sued for defamation by a former executive of Dominion Voting Systems over claims that aired on his show.
“I don’t take any income or salary from these events and I do that because I’m not trying to get rich, I’m not trying to make it as a firebrand. I’m trying to save this nation,” Clark told the crowd between acts.
Plenty of money does change hands though. Dietary supplements, fluoride-free toothpaste, patriotic coffee and children’s books like “The Cat In The Maga Hat” are all on sale. Bedazzled purses in the shape of a gun or the Titanic (a metaphor for the country) cost $500.
Carson Massie was selling vibrating platforms you can stand on instead of exercising. “Ten minutes on this is equal to an hour at the gym,” said Massie. The units go for $3,300 each, a steal compared to other models on the market, he said. Their stand sells about 150 on an average ReAwaken day.
After his speech, Roger Stone remained near the stage to pose for pictures with attendees. On either side of him were two people holding open large, clear garbage bags who collected cash donations toward Stone’s legal and medical bills.
It’s easy to just dismiss this as extreme nutso grift that goes even beyond the usual MAGA lunacy. But Eric Trump has been dispatched to this tour and that’s not just because he’s a true believer in Michael Flynn. He’s representing the Trump family, putting its imprimatur on their crazy, saying he’s one of them. They aren’t trying to hide it anymore.
Eric has made it clear:
As you can see, it’s everywhere on the right: