Donald Trump and Bill O’Reilly kicked off their “History Tour” in Sunrise, Florida over the weekend to a mostly empty stadium. Despite promising “big crowds,” the ex-president and fired Fox News host’s joint speaking engagement didn’t draw quite the fanfare they had promised.
Related: Melania is bringing back her blood trees for Christmas ‘charity’ fundraiser benefiting Donald Trump
Tickets to the event, which was held at the FLA Live Arena, home of the Florida Panthers NHL team, ranged from $100 to $7,500. (Yes, $7,500.) According to the Sun-Sentinel, “many seats remained empty in the cavernous arena. The top-level was closed, and ticket buyers were ‘upgraded’ to the lower bowl.”
But even with “upgrading” seats, there were still a “substantial amount” of empty floor-level seats.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
This should give you an idea- I don’t have an estimate. Each person paid $138 or more – some people paid thousands for VIP access. pic.twitter.com/i43Zr2FB5h
— Brittany Wallman (@BrittanyWallman) December 12, 2021
Despite a much smaller crowd than advertised, the Sun-Sentinel says the MAGA loyalists that did turn up were in high spirits, sporting their “red baseball caps” and “favorite Donald Trump T-shirts.” And, of course, not wearing masks.
Afterwards, Trump issued a statement saying that everyone had a “great time” and that attendance was so awesome that he might hold another event at the same exact venue in the “not too distant future.”
Related: Rosie O’Donnell says there’s one person in particular who can be blamed for Donald Trump
On Sunday, Trump and O’Reilly made a second tour stop, this time at The Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, home to the Orlando Magic basketball team, where tickets sales appear to have been even worse.
One video shared on Twitter showed a sparsely-filled arena with the highest seating deck almost completely empty.
Lots of Patriots here in Orlando for the History Tour with President Trump and @BillOReilly ?? pic.twitter.com/S4Q3C7wgHE
— Jared Caban (@Jared_Caban) December 12, 2021
Last week, Newsweek reported that hundreds of tickets for tour stops scheduled in Houston and Dallas were still available. After they first went on sale back in June, Politico reported that they weren’t selling as quickly as expected.
O’Reilly responded at the time by threatening the reporter: “You put one word in there that’s not true, I’ll sue your ass off and you can quote me on that. You’re just a hatchet man and that’s what you are!”
Now, some tweets…
The History Tour with Trump and O’Reilly shows the history of lack of crowds. Photos @SunSentinel @voxdotcom pic.twitter.com/zSJ52kOSeQ
— Outspoken (@Out5p0ken) December 12, 2021
Donald Trump and Bill O’Reilly’s joint speaking tour proved to be a big failure.? pic.twitter.com/19IosPjAmJ
— TeaPotUSA (@TeaPotUSA) December 13, 2021
It’s different when they don’t get paid 🤣
— Kyle is guilty (@rescuemom15) December 12, 2021
So many empty seats at the Trump/O’Reilly “history”event they actually had to close off large sections of the arena. Bigly. Sad. pic.twitter.com/w9brANsJVO
— Mark Kermode (@KermodeMovie) December 12, 2021
“I’m very pleased to see you are human, and you are at least open minded enough to listen. I’m going to try to change my opinion and think that they’re not all monsters,” Kay Peters, 95, says of journalists. Covering the Trump- O’Reilly History Tour in Sunrise. pic.twitter.com/NbzchYGiOl
— Brittany Wallman (@BrittanyWallman) December 11, 2021
In their defense, a lot of people would have come if they weren’t dead, or on respirators.
— the4thpip (@the4thpip) December 12, 2021
The opening night of the #DonaldTrump and #BillOReilly tour was a complete failure. Good. pic.twitter.com/6PzUMTB08x
— Michelangelo – Mid Term Elections here we come..? (@_Michelangelo__) December 12, 2021
Trump: "Big crowds!"
The Trump and O’Reilly Misery Tour is off to a great start.
The top level was closed and ticket buyers were upgraded to the lower bowl.
Because it’s empty. pic.twitter.com/1xFcsn3Ceu— Mike (@Mike39532649) December 12, 2021
Think the venue got paid in advance?
— Smokey Sullivan (@smokey_sullivan) December 13, 2021
Trump’s history tour is selling “limited edition” beer koozies. pic.twitter.com/sDBdvnDH7m
— PatriotTakes ?? (@patriottakes) December 12, 2021
Womp Womp
Donald Trump's event with former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly on Saturday had so many empty seats that organizers closed the top bowl of the stadium. pic.twitter.com/OZ0WYNNVtB— Misleader in Chief (@MisleaderC) December 12, 2021
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Mister P
Neither one of them has anything new to say that even the republicans are bored with them.
Chrisk
I’ll bet that crowd is rabid crazy.
Jaquelope
I doubt if you’d lose your shirt (or anything else) on that bet.
Essie
That’s STILL too many people who paid money to see these two monsters. That’s the sad part.
daddytop
I completely agree. It is very sad. Our country is doomed with this many stupid people living in it.
mateo
Well of course they didn’t show; they already spent all their money on “Our Time Together” and there wasn’t anything left afterwards!
Mack
Trump will just say the pictures were taken before the event. I believe he’s used that line before when he had a small crowd. He’s still ripping off donors and lining his pockets and they’re just too stupid to realize it.
ptseti
Still, too many people there for me to say otherwise. But I guess those that attended cannot be saved . They have drunk for the well of the Trump anti- christ and so they are lost forever.
TheAbsoluteTRUTH
Since i live in Plantation about two miles from the arena i attended the event and in Queerty’s typical disingenuous news story reporting about the right they lied as usual. No it wasn’t sold out but it was a lot fuller than that. Did you guys happen too notice trump or o’reilly isn’t on stage in these photos that should clue you in on the slanting alone. Nice try though
Halfnhalf
The fact you went is enough for me. You’re a poor excuse for a queer person.
mailliw110
You must be new to the internet. It’s not just Queerty that have news feeds.
GrizzleyMichael
Two losers for the price of none
hayesj
I hope all those unmasked losers gave each other Covid.
fsnbgk
It’s kind of a self correcting problem 🙂 By all means, give each other hugs!
rray63
I have to ask, and please call me troll if it makes you feel better. But is there anyone else on here that thought to do a simple google search to see if there were any other pictures? I do and I did and the first try there was another picture.
Looking at them both you see one with lights on (possibly still seating the audience), the other the lights have been dimmed and the dimwits are actually on the stage, very large crowd on the floor level and 2nd level from the angle presented, couldn’t really tell about the top.
My point is we see pictures, we read words and we never question anything. As long as it presents the narrative that we want we go along with it, that makes us ignorant and I know we aren’t all that way.
Report from CNBC last week. In a generic ballot Republicans have a 10 point lead over us, how could this be possible? Will we regain some of that before Nov. ’22? Sure, but will it be enough with an energized Republican base and more Independents following suit?
We need to start using our minds, our eye sight more and checking the media that purports to support us, don’t you think?
Openminded
@rray, it’s hazardous to your reputation to dispute what all the other sheep here have said. I look at the pictures on this article and actually see quite a few people, way many more people than empty seats. I’m not claiming the event was a successful money maker, but the majority of seats look full.
I don’t concern myself with how many people attend, nor how much they pay for attending a PRIVATE event. That’s their business. I’m convinced Trump has his zombie followers who will believe anything he says just like Queerty has several zombie readers who never get past the headlines before commenting.
Thad
I’d much rather see the Florida Panthers. They’re good this year and are leading their division. The arena’s quite nice.
But since we’re mentioning “The History Tour,” what about the content? Was there any entertainment value? Any truth? Any appeal for the non-Trumper?
scotty
ooh the poorly educated. love them.
tbone11
“HEY BOBBY RAY! HEY COOTER! SPIT IN THEM FOLKS MOUTHS AND TELL ‘EM TO PASS IT DOWN! WE’LL SHOW THEM DEMS COVIDS FAKE NEWS!”
mailliw110
I would have been rather upset to find out that the person sitting next to me only paid $100 and I paid $7500.
QDaBirdz1st
What if a couple of self-promoting, ethically oblivious blastocysts held an event and (just about) nobody came? Now we know.
nitejonboy
Lower bowl ?? Lower BOWEL is more like it. I’m sure that place stank to high Heaven.