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'Idiots': Thousands of Trump supporters ignore social distancing at rally

Thousands of supporters of US President Donald Trump have been filmed flocking to a campaign rally while ignoring social distancing rules.

Mr Trump touched down in Nevada on Saturday (local time) in tiny Minden after his initial plan to hold one in Reno was cancelled amid concerns it would have violated coronavirus health guidelines.

Addressing a mostly mask-less crowd tightly packed together, Mr Trump spoke in front of mountains draped in haze, the scent of smoke in the air from wildfires raging a state away in California.

Supporters of Donald Trump crowd Minden-Tahoe Airport's tarmac in Nevada.
Supporters of US President Donald Trump flock the Minden-Tahoe Airport's tarmac before his arrival on Saturday. Source: KRNV News 4

The president expressed his condolences to the victims but, declaring that “I don’t have to be nice anymore”, focused on tearing into his Democratic opponent, Joe Biden.

Mr Trump claimed the Democrat’s running mate, Senator Kamala Harris, would be president “in about a month” if Mr Biden won, asserting that the former vice president would be but a figurehead and that Ms Harris would hold power.

Supporters of US President Donald Trump at a campaign rally at Minden-Tahoe Airport, Nevada.
Mr Trump's supporters eagerly await his arrival. Source: Bloomberg QuickTake News

Several thousand people covered the tarmac in Minden, including Tom Lenz, 64, of Sparks, Nevada, who said he didn’t vote for Trump last time.

“But I will this time. I think he knows what he’s doing,” Mr Lenz said.

“He’s pro-faith, pro-life, he’s made more peace in the world. Biden can’t even talk.”

Video of supporters flocking the Minden-Tahoe Airport tarmac was captured by KRNV News 4.

US President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign rally at the Minden-Tahoe airport in Minden, Nevada.
Mr Trump arrives at the airport. Source: Getty Images

On Facebook, people slammed those at the rally for being unsafe.

“There you go, keep spreading a deadly virus,” one woman wrote.

“It'll catch up to you.”

One man called them “idiots”.

“Prepare for an uptick of COVID-19 in a couple weeks,” another woman said.

with The Associated Press

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