At a rally in an Olathe manufacturing facility on Monday, Vice President JD Vance spoke to a crowd of hundreds in front of a banner that read “Defend Our Future.”
That message set the tone for the event, with Vance and other prominent Republicans speaking about immigration and manufacturing and urging them to support U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall’s reelection bid.
The rally took place at Webco Manufacturing, a metal fabrication company, and was hosted by MAGA Inc., President Donald Trump’s main political action committee.
The crowd was largely enthusiastic, cheering when speakers took the stage and chanting “USA” on several occasions. They sang along to “Sweet Caroline” and “Mr. Brightside” during breaks in the rally.
There were several moments of dissent, however, with at least two protesters escorted out by security guards.
Before Vance’s speech, the audience heard from U.S. Reps. Ron Estes and Tracey Mann, Kansas Senate President and gubernatorial candidate Ty Masterson and Marshall himself. Administrator Kelly Loeffler of the U.S. Small Business Administration introduced the vice president.
Olathe Mayor John Bacon was in attendance but did not speak.
Much of the afternoon centered on Marshall, who is facing Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton, founding pastor of a Methodist megachurch in Leawood, this November.
Vance, who called Marshall a “very, very good friend,” commended the U.S. senator.
“Praise be to God, Dr. Roger Marshall, a proud servant of this state and a proud Christian to boot,” he said.
Vance, along with the other speakers, frequently criticized Democrats, calling them the “radical left” and saying they seek to divide the state.
“So to Adam Hamilton and every far-left radical who wants to gain power by dividing Americans against each other, our message is simple,” Vance said. “We are united in keeping you as far away from the halls of Congress as possible.”
Bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S.
Vance spent much of his remarks arguing that Trump administration policies are bringing manufacturing jobs back to the United States.
He spoke specifically about a Webco employee who, he said, received a promotion and a 50% raise after working at the company for about a year and a half. Vance pointed to the worker as an example of the kind of career the administration wants to promote.
“Working hard to master a trade and earning a stake in the company that he’s devoting his career to: That is exactly the kind of all-American success story that your government should be fighting for every single day,” Vance said.
Vance predicted companies would build more factories and assembly lines in the United States under the Trump administration.
“We’re gonna see that great American renaissance in American manufacturing,” he said.
Marshall also spoke about manufacturing during his remarks, arguing that the Trump administration’s tariffs are working and bringing jobs back to the United States.
The senator specifically mentioned manufacturing in Olathe, including Faith Technologies, a data center parts manufacturer, as well as the city’s air traffic control footprint.
Marshall said he and the Trump administration will “always choose hard-working Americans over China.”
Earlier in the day Monday at a press event at the FBI field office in Kansas City, Missouri, Vance announced the Trump administration was suspending 870,000 people from receiving federal payments and loans after defrauding the COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program meant to help small businesses during the pandemic.
On immigration
Immigration was also a major theme of the rally.
Vance repeatedly criticized former President Joe Biden’s immigration policies and credited the current administration with reducing illegal immigration.
“It turns out we didn’t need new laws, ladies and gentlemen,” Vance said. “We just needed a new president of the United States.”
Vance also tied illegal immigration to unemployment, housing costs and public safety, saying that preventing people from coming to the U.S. without authorization would create more opportunities for citizens.
“This is not about hating anybody, no matter what the radical fringe of the left says,” Vance said. “This is about love for our fellow citizens.”
“This is about standing up for workers and factories,” he continued. “This is about standing up for your good jobs, your good wages and for your neighborhood’s safety.”
“You’re either normal or you’re crazy”
The afternoon’s remarks were interrupted at least twice by protesters. Vance stopped his speech as a protester was escorted out while telling people that Vance “hates Jesus” as he passed them.
Marshall also received some boos when he took the stage.
The crowd, which was filled with people wearing Trump gear, was otherwise strongly supportive of the speakers and their messages.
Throughout the event, attendees were urged to vote Republican during the midterms and were told that Democrats are politically extreme.
Rep. Tracey Mann, who represents Kansas’ First Congressional District, said it’s no longer Republicans versus Democrats.
“Now it feels like you’re either normal or you’re crazy,” Mann told the crowd.
“You can be a communist or a patriot, but you can’t be both,” he added.
Mann concluded his remarks by telling the crowd: “We’re Republicans. We’re Kansans. And we ride at dawn.”
Loeffler similarly framed the upcoming election as a choice between “common sense” or “crazy,” while Kansas Republican Party Chair Danedri Herbert warned attendees that polling is close and Republicans need every vote.
Vance ended his speech with another appeal for Marshall.
“I ask you this November to stand for a man who stood for moms and babies, to stand for a man who stood for all Kansas,” Vance said. “Let’s stand for Doc Marshall.”
