'Maybe greater even than Elvis...' Donald Trump boasts his now bigger than Elvis Presley
Donald Trump claimed he is now bigger than Elvis Presley, as he boasted about the size of his crowd at his election rally in Uniondale, Long Island, which was on Wednesday (18.09.24).
Donald Trump has boasted he draws bigger crowds than Elvis Presley at the height of his fame.
The former US President was on the campaign trail in Uniondale, Long Island, on Wednesday (18.09.24), for his first public appearance since the second assassination attempt he survived which occurred at his West Palm Beach golf resort last Sunday (15.09.24).
During his speech, Trump claimed he was "maybe greater even than Elvis" due to the size of crowd he now draws to his election rallies.
He said: "I’m the greatest of all time. Maybe greater even than Elvis.
"Elvis had a guitar, I don’t have a guitar. I don’t have the privilege of a guitar.”
He had first declared to his supporters that God had spared his life “not once, but twice" so he could lead America once again following the two attempts on his life.
The first attempt occurred on July 13 at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks fired eight bullets, one of which grazed Trump's right ear before he was shot and killed by a Secret Service sniper.
The second attempt took place on September 15. The assassination bid was foiled when a Secret Service agent spotted 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh hiding with a rifle in shrubbery at Trump International Golf Club and fired upon him before he was arrested.
The Long Island rally attracted a crowd of approximately 50,000 people, but the venue can only seat fewer than 16,000 individuals. The crowd size meant that it was one of the largest rallies of Trump's re-election campaign.
Trump has often boasted about the size of the crowds at his rallies, even comparing the attendance to an event on January 6, 2021 to the size of the crowd that witnessed Martin Luther King Jr's historic “I have a dream” speech in August 1963.
Vice President Kamala Harris, his rival for the White House, highlighted his apparent obsession with crowd numbers during their election debate where she taunted him by suggesting that people left his speeches because of “exhaustion and boredom".
Trump responded in the televised debate by saying: "People don’t leave my rallies. We have the biggest rallies, the most incredible rallies in the history of politics."
The former 'Apprentice' host has been a life-long Elvis fan.
At his first Medal of Freedom ceremony as president in November 2018, Trump posthumously honoured the King of Rock and Roll with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a special ceremony held at the White House in recognition of Elvis' army service in the late 1950s.
The award is - along with the Congressional Gold Medal - the highest civilian award in America and it recognises those people who have made "an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavours". It was established by President Truman in 1945.
A statement explaining why Elvis was being recognised was released by the White House at the time.
It read: "Elvis Presley defined American culture to billions of adoring fans around the world. Elvis fused gospel, country, and rhythm and blues to create a sound all his own, selling more than a billion records. Elvis also served nearly six years in the United States Army - two years in active service, with four years in the reserves - humbly accepting the call to serve despite his fame. He later starred in 31 films, drew record-breaking audiences to his shows, sent television ratings soaring, and earned 14 GRAMMY Award nominations. He ultimately won 3 GRAMMY Awards for his gospel music. Elvis Presley remains an enduring American icon 4 decades after his death.”
Jack Soden, CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises and Graceland accepted the award and said: "On behalf of the Presley family, Elvis’ friends and millions of fans, it will be a great honour to accept this award. Elvis loved his country, served proudly in the US Army and would no doubt consider this one of the great honours of his life.
"We look forward to displaying it proudly at Graceland so the millions of visitors from around the world will be able to see it up close."
