Trump Spoke at 29th Rolling Thunder Demonstration Run

5/29/2016 -- Hundreds of thousands of bikers assembled at the Pentagon before riding en masse through Washington D.C. to the Lincoln Memorial, where Donald J. Trump was a guest speaker at the 29th annual Rolling Thunder veteran's motorcycle run. 

 

Rolling Thunder Riders from as far away as California and Texas, cross the heartlands of America together for the annual "Freedom Ride" through Washington D.C., coming together for the biggest one-day rally in the USA. This year marks 29 years. - Video - MSgt Rob Wilkins, USAF, Ret. 

The first Rolling Thunder run, in 1987 was made in an attempt to petition the government to take responsibility for the soldiers that were abandoned after the Vietnam War ended. Four Vietnam veterans, exercising their First Amendment "right to petition and assemble," organized a group of 2,500 veterans on motorcycles to ride through the streets of Washington D.C. to bring awareness of the plight of prisoners of war (POW) and those missing in action (MIA.)

Today, more than 500,000 riders participate in the Freedom Ride and as many as 900,000 people line the streets to welcome them to the nation's capitol.


Nancy Regg, a spokeswoman for Rolling Thunder, said the group invited Mr. Trump to appear. The group did not extend an invitation to Hillary Clinton or Senator Bernie Sanders, she told the New York Times.

Richard McFadden, 58, an annual Rolling Thunder attendee from North Carolina, said Mrs. Clinton would not have been welcome. Read more.