Former President Donald Trump made his first visit to south-central Pennsylvania during the 2024 campaign, visiting York on Monday.

Not your typical Trump venue, the Precision Custom Components plant was not built for his usual rallies and its large audiences. The infrastructure around the city was also challenged by street closings and heavy congestion – particularly when Trump left the city during rush hour.

The visit to York was the first by a presidential candidate since 2008 when former President Barack Obama came calling. The last Republican to visit the White Rose City was George W. Bush in 2004.

Here are five takeaways from the event.

1. Trump Is More Comfortable Without a Teleprompter

During his 52-minute speech at the specialized manufacturing plant, the former president appeared to make a conscious effort to remain “on script” and using the teleprompter as much as possible.

“The handiwork of Precision Custom Components has strengthened the spine of America. Your products have gone into the Hoover Dam and they currently are in a lot of work. I’m here today to deliver a simple message. When I’m back in the White House, America’s future will be built right here in Pennsylvania.”

Yet, there were times when Trump opted to go “off script.”

“And I stood up to China like never before, bringing in hundreds of billions of dollars when no other president had gotten literally 10 cents from China, I’ve brought in hundreds of billions of dollars from China. Never happened before. Nobody else literally got 10 cents.”

“The 30-year mortgage rate was 2.6% but it was actually closer to 1.9 if you look at it the way that most people look at it. And gasoline had reached, and was basically at, levels of $1.87 a gallon, but we had months and moments where it was even less than that.”

His audience seemed to relish his less-scripted moments, as did the candidate.

2. Trump Still Has Complete Support of His Base

The invitation-only audience of approximately 250 was decked out in various Trump-related hats and t-shirts and patiently waited out some showers before being permitted inside the venue.

In the media check-in line, a number of comments about looking for the “honest press” and “fair stories” were lobbed toward the fourth estate. There is power in numbers.

Once Trump began his address, at least one reporter was asked to move from her spot in the front of the media pen just feet away from the former president. That “request” came from two women who complained that their view of Trump was blocked.

The audience cheered Trump’s stump-speech lines, especially telling “Comrade Kamala” that in 78 days, Pennsylvania will say “You’re Fired.”

They also enjoyed his promises, stating he will “unleash explosive economic growth, put more money into your pockets, massively cut taxes, slash regulations, crack down on trade cheaters … ‘And bring back those beautiful words, ‘Made in the USA.'”

They also jeered on cue, after Trump mentioned Harris, Biden and the media.

“When I left office, I handed Kamala and crooked Joe Biden, a surging economy with no inflation. You had no inflation. You had everything. Was good, great wages, no inflation. It was all blown up and destroyed, and jobs were lost. A lot of jobs were lost. Our country is doing really badly under them, and nobody wants to talk about it. The media doesn’t like talking about it, because the Democrats, they really protect themselves. It’s pretty amazing. Someday the media is going to become real media instead of fake media.”

3. There Will Always Be Fact-Checking After a Trump Address

“She set the standard in California. Think of this if you steal $950 or less, they’re going to leave you alone. They can’t be bothered. So you see criminals going into stores with little computer adding it up every year. We want to stay under $950 but they don’t get prosecuted for above that.” Politifact has rated that as “False.”

“Gasoline had reached and was basically at levels of $1.87 a gallon, but we had months and moments where it was even less than that. Wouldn’t that be nice?” Politifact also rated that as “False.”

“She wants to defund the police, abolish cash bail, and abolish ICE, get rid of the incredible brave patriots of ICE, who take MS13 gang members, probably the worst gang anywhere in the world, they take them out and they take them out bravely.” Politifact also labeled this one as “False.”

4. Notable Attendees

Three Republican congressmen were in attendance – Reps. Scott Perry (R-10), Dan Meuser (R-09) and Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-15). Notable by their absence was Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-11), who represents Lancaster and York Counties, and Rep. John Joyce (R-13) whose district includes neighboring Adams County.

Also spotted were a pair of York County’s state legislators – Reps. Seth Grove and Mike Jones. A number of York County elected officials were also present.

5. The Campaign Appears To Still Be Struggling To Find The Message

It was not that long ago when Trump indicated that this week would be quiet, ceding the media’s attention to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

But with recent polling showed increased strength for the Harris-Walz campaign, Trump seemed to make an adjustment on the fly, adding York – a plus-25 win for Trump in 2020 – to his tour of the Keystone State just days after holding a rally in Wilkes-Barre.

The Republican campaign has made stops in the mainstays of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, while Trump has also visited Luzerne County – considered a bellwether within the state. Look for campaign events in upcoming weeks in Erie County in the northwest corner of the state, as well as Northampton County, along the PA-NJ border in the Lehigh Valley. Both are also considered bellwethers.