Donald Trump protesters, supporters flock to Freedom Hall – The Courier-Journal

PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP SPEAKS IN LOUISVILLE IN MARCH 2017Trump visits Louisville: What you missed | 0:59

President Donald Trump visited Louisville on Monday. Here's what you missed. Rachel Aretakis/Wochit

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President Donald Trump held a campaign-style rally in a packed Freedom Hall on Monday night.

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President Donald Trump talks about trade during his campaign-style rally at Freedom Hall in Louisville on Monday night.

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During a campaign-style rally at Freedom Hall on Monday night President Donald Trump talks about keeping his campaign promises

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The crowds came out before President Trump's speech at Freedom Hall. Marty Pearl/Special to C-J

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Trump visits Louisville: What you missed

Donald Trump's opening remarks at Freedom Hall in Louisville

Trump on trade

President Trump talks about keeping his campaign promises at rally in Freedom Hall

Trump fans and foes outside Freedom Hall

Comedian and Donald Trump impersonator Dustin Gold interacts with Trump supporters before a visit by Pres. Donald Trump to the Kentucky Exposition Center's Freedom Hall on Monday. March 20, 2017(Photo: Alton Strupp/CJ)Buy Photo

Hundreds of protesters on Monday waved signs and gave fiery speeches at the gates to Freedom Hall ahead President Donald Trump's visit to tout his plan to replace Obamacare, booing as Air Force One passed overhead for landing.

But theirnumbers were dwarfed by the long lines of thousands of Trump supporters wearing red Make AmericaGreat Again hats that snaked around the fairgroundshours before Trump appeared. Many scorned the demonstrators, calling them snowflakes.

At the end of the night, as Trump supporters flooded out of the area, police went from blocking a group of chanting protesters from entering the front of Freedom Hall to protecting them from a ring of jeering Trump supporters who chanted USA! and hurled insults.

They need to get over it, said rallygoer Bonnie Rhome. Accept that he is the president.

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The protests, spearheaded by the liberal group Indivisible Kentucky, have become a fixture at such events, including the recent visit by Vice President Mike Pence to build support for effort to "repeal and replace" the Affordable Care Act.

Many, holding signs such as one reading Republicare will kill poor, elderly and sick people and Stop the lunacy, said they wanted Obamacare fixed, not replaced by something that might further drive up costs.

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Im totally against it, said George Bodina, a Navy veteran who held a handmade sign portraying Trump with a Pinocchio nose. He said Kentucky has benefited from the Affordable Care Act.

Speakers from groups such as Black Lives Matter, Parents for Social Justice and Stand Up Louisville highlighted issues ranging from police shootings to immigrant rights to efforts to cut funding for Planned Parenthood. Democratic State Rep Jim Wayne told the crowd he thought Trump had a personality disorder and was not equipped to lead this great nation.

The crowds came out before President Trump's speech at Freedom Hall. Marty Pearl/Special to C-J

Supporters waiting in line nearby wore Trump T-shirts, including one that readFinally someone with balls. They took selfies with a Trump impersonator and listened to classic rock. They bought buttons reading, Deplorable Lives Matter, and one man wore a pin knocking CNN as the Communist News Network. A coal miner from Eastern Kentucky wore his helmet and said he was there to thank Trump. Some said they were pleased with Trumps brash and unapologetic style.

Im tired of paying taxes for people who dont work, said William Bizer, a retiree from Southern Indiana.

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Donna Duke, a housekeeper from Breckinridge County, Kentucky,said she made too much to qualify for Obamacare subsidies but still cant afford a health plan, so shegoes without insurance and her diabetes medication.

They said you have to have it and then dont make it affordable, she said.

Kentucky has emerged as a battleground state in the effort to repeal the federal health care law.

Mainly thanks to an expansion of Medicaid, more than 500,000 Kentuckians gained health coverage after Obamacare was implemented by former Gov. Steve Beshear, who has been outspoken in his support for Obamacare since Trump was elected.

The Republican plan backed by Trump already is controversial within the GOP, with some arguing it doesn't go far enough to fully repeal the law. Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is among those. On Monday,he said in Louisville that he would not vote for the plan, which he called "Obamacare Lite."

Reporter Chris Kenning can be reached at 502-582-4697 or ckenning@courier-journal.com

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Donald Trump protesters, supporters flock to Freedom Hall - The Courier-Journal