On Monday, a record-breaking 7,000 people gathered at the DeltaPlex Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan to form a crowd of impatient, passionate spectators. Amongst the sea of red was presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Trump visited Grand Rapids to stir up support for his campaign in West Michigan.

Though it was with much backlash and opposition, online RSVP’s for the free event came streaming in within hours and protest events were organized almost immediately.

Outside, around 40 people gathered outside in the rain to protest Trump.

“I just hope we (protesters) can open up people’s minds about what he’s saying,” said Talia Cruz, a Grand Valley State University social work student. “All these people attending think that he’s doing the right thing. They just need to open their eyes and see all these hateful comments can really separate us as a country.”

Inside, supporters and critics alike filled the 6,200-seat venue. While the crowd was predictably mostly white, male and middle-aged, many young people came out to show their support as well.

“Millennials (generally) don’t practice political efficacy,” said Dustin Fuller, a business administration student at GVSU. “Maybe it’s just because we were brought up in an era where it’s not that big of a deal. (I) just decided that any time someone is in Michigan, I’d try to see my options.”

The opening ceremony began with a prayer led by local pastor Philip Smith, calling for an end to political correctness, and so the tone was set for the night.

One of Trump’s major talking points included his thoughts on other candidates.

“Hillary, that’s not a president,” he said. “If we don’t get it right this time, we’re not going to have a country left.”

He called Clinton’s brief absence at the most recent Democratic debate (due to a long bathroom line) “disgusting,” and that the only reason that she wasn’t kicked out was because she “practically owns ABC.”

Trump, who made note that he is leading the latest Fox News poll by 11 points, also told the audience much he loves running after Bobby Jindal and Lindsey Graham dropped out.

“Politicians are all talk, no action. They don’t get the job done,” Trump said. “I want to bring our jobs back.”

Trump’s proposal to create jobs in Michigan was to revitalize the auto industry, which has lost 219,000 jobs in the state between 2000 and 2009.

“You’re making great cars,” he said. “They’re making cars in Mexico, they’re making cars in Japan, they’re making cars all over the place and you guys are looking for jobs. It’s a disgrace.”

Trump also talked about the Ford Motor Company sending jobs overseas, creating jobs and supporting their local economies. Under his administration, Trump said he would bring the jobs back into the U.S.

Trump also talked about his evolution as a politician, highlighting himself as the only candidate not being controlled by a PAC or a special interest group.

“I used to be Mr. Establishment,” he said. “I’m not anymore and I love it.”

While Trump was generally met with support throughout the night, there was a healthy amount of backlash during the event.

The first interruption of the night came from a protester near the stage, who was immediately escorted out to a roar of booing, followed by a “U-S-A” chant. Of the 11 interruptions throughout the night, Trump took each one in stride, at one point joking about the protesters, a group of young spectators, being “drugged up.”

“I could sit with those kids and we would talk,” said Trump, if the protesters had been his supporters. “I would say that I want to make our country, I want to make our people better.”

Trump mentioned his thoughts on Middle Eastern politics, oil and ISIS, before casting judgement on President Barack Obama.

“Obama doesn’t want to take oil because he doesn’t want to harm our environment,” Trump said. “There’s something wrong with him.”

While Trump touched on his master plan to build a wall, he mostly focused on his domestic policy plans to “make America great again.”

“The American dream is dead,” Trump said. “But I’m going to make it bigger, better and stronger than ever. I’m going to make our country so strong and so powerful, we’re going to make it great again.”

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