Donald Trump's Nashville visit draws cheers, criticism

Before the crowds, cheers, chants, protests and droves of media that accompany popular but controversial GOP presidential contender Donald Trump rolled in to Nashville Saturday morning, Janet Newlon and Richard Snowden were waiting and ready to help anyone who wanted to add to their political attire.

Newlon, 67, and Snowden, 64, made the roughly one-hour drive from Carthage to Nashville to see Trump. With arms full of "Make America Great Again" hats and Trump buttons, the pair couldn't wait to hear from perhaps the biggest name in American politics.

"We're just big boosters of a non-politician with good business sense. And he tells it like it is, we love that," Snowden said,

"We're very hopeful. It's looking better every week. He's got a good shot at (the Republican presidential nomination) now."

Trump agrees: The Republican presidential frontrunner touted the numerous national and state polls that show him leading more experienced GOP politicians during his speech at the National Federation of Republican Assemblies event Saturday morning in Nashville.

The NFRA, a conservative group not affiliated with the Republican National Convention typically considered to the right of the GOP establishment, hosted the speech at Rocketown. Although the venue south of downtown Nashville is typically reserved for small concerts or used as a skate park, more than 500 people craned their necks, stood on chairs and pushed through crowds to get a glimpse of the controversial business tycoon.

"We're going to take this country back and make it so great again, so strong again," Trump said at the beginning of a wide-ranging speech that drew consistent cheers and applause from the audience.

Trump bounced from topic to topic, returning several times to his poll numbers in between discussion of health care, veterans rights, national debt, his television show "The Apprentice," his books, his family, police brutality and a slew of other topics.

He pledged to "repeal and replace Obamacare," joked about holding fundraisers in the White House instead of using taxpayer money to fly to events, blasted the media for only focusing on the "bad apples" among police and not the majority of law enforcement and criticized fellow Republicans.

"I'm a Republican, I'm conservative. But I'm just as angry with Republicans. Because they go to Washington and something happens: they become weak," Trump said.

Some of the biggest cheers came when Trump spoke about issues within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. He blasted the oft-criticized wait times many veterans endure before they receive medical care.

"The illegal immigrants, in many cases...are treated better than our veterans," Trump said.

No other topic from Trump has consistently garnered as much attention or criticism as his take on immigration. After saying people coming to the U.S. from Mexico are bringing drugs, crime and  "they're rapists" in his presidential announcement speech, Trump said Saturday he employs many Hispanics within his private enterprise who are "great people."

But he also criticized the concept of "sanctuary cities"; conservatives have blasted policies that allow undocumented immigrants to remain in the country after committing crimes. Opponents point to several cases where undocumented immigrants have committed heinous crimes after being allowed to remain in the United States.

"Last night in Massachusetts, I met some unbelievable families that have been devastated by illegal immigrants. They come into the country and kill members of their family," Trump said.

Nearly 400 immigration rights activist and labor rights activists rallied outside the event. With banners that read "We are not criminals, we are Tennessee," they marched to chants of "Hey hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go."

The Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition joined with Workers' Dignity, another activist organization, to create the rally. TIRRC co-executive director Stephanie Teatro said they wanted to rally Saturday because they believe presidential campaigns aren't accurately portraying immigrant communities amid the ongoing debate on immigration reform.

"As immigration takes center stage in the conversation in the presidential debate, we've seen it take a turn for the worse. Really devaluing immigrant communities, undervaluing their many contributions," Teatro said.

"We're here to change the narrative and uplift the community, and remind all candidates that we're here and we're paying attention, and that Tennesseans want real immigration reform."

After the event, Austin Fiala and Elizabeth Reavis posed with a Trump poster in front of dozens of chanting protesters. They said the protesters have a right to express their opinion, but the 17-year-olds, who attend high school in Bell Buckle, said they have a right to support Trump.

Reavis, from Manchester, said she found his confidence refreshing and appreciated his discussion about veterans. Fiala, from Tullahoma, said he agrees veterans are too often overlooked and thought Trump earnestly wants to help those in need.

"He's very genuine about the way he presents himself. He doesn't hide anything. He doesn't abide by politically correct standards and that's something that's very refreshing for a lot of people," Fiala said.

Both Reavis and Fiala said they plan to vote for Trump once they are old enough to register to vote.

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Trump spoke for a little more than an hour. He said he loved Nashville, touting the Grand Ole Opry and country music, while noting that he purchased the property where Trump Tower now sits in Manhattan from a Nashville company. Fans from all over the country stayed to try and get a picture or autograph with Trump.

After his speech a reporter mentioned Nashville's large Kurdish population. Before the reporter finished asking a question, Trump said he supports Kurdish fighters in Iraq.

"I will tell you that we should be using and utilizing those people. They are great fighters, they have great heart. We should be using those people," Trump said.

This is the second time Trump has spoken in Nashville this year. He also attended the National Rifle Association's annual meeting in April, along with many other GOP presidential contenders.

Reach Dave Boucher at 615-259-8892 and on Twitter @Dave_Boucher1.