Ethan Riley
Former US President Donald Trump's visit to Cincinnati stirred controversy and anger towards US Bank Arena. The arena hosted a Trump rally in August 2019, sparking hundreds of responses on social media. Many threatened to close their accounts with the bank, and an online petition was signed by thousands to pressure the bank to cancel the rally. The controversy centred on the perception of Trump's rhetoric and the association of the bank's name with the event. This incident raises questions about the role of corporations in political events and the potential impact on their public image.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of the incident | July 8, 2019 |
| Location | U.S. Bank Arena, Cincinnati |
| Event | Trump's August 1 rally announcement |
| Responses | Hundreds of responses, including threats to close bank accounts and an online petition to pressure U.S. Bank to cancel the rally |
| Number of signatures on the petition | More than 6,000 |
| Outcome | Fight broke out outside the arena during Trump's rally, resulting in one arrest |
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What You'll Learn
- U.S. Bank Arena hosted a Trump rally in 2016
- Hundreds responded to the Bank's tweet announcing Trump's 2019 rally
- Dozens threatened to close their accounts with U.S. Bank
- Over 6,000 signed a petition to pressure U.S. Bank to cancel the rally
- A fight broke out outside the 2019 rally, resulting in an arrest
U.S. Bank Arena hosted a Trump rally in 2016
In 2016, weeks after winning the presidential election, Donald Trump held a rally at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati as part of his "Thank You" tour. This was not the first time the arena had hosted a Trump rally. In 2019, the U.S. Bank Arena hosted another Trump rally, this time as part of his "Keep America Great" campaign.
The 2019 rally attracted controversy, with hundreds of people responding to the U.S. Bank Arena's tweet announcing the event with threats to close their bank accounts. An online petition by an anti-NRA activist to pressure U.S. Bank to cancel the rally garnered thousands of signatures. Despite the backlash, the rally went ahead, and Trump addressed his supporters inside the arena.
The 2019 rally was marred by violence, with a fight breaking out between a Trump supporter and a protester outside the arena. Dallas Frazier, 29, of Georgetown, Kentucky, was charged with misdemeanor assault and held on a $10,000 bond. The victim, Alter, said the altercation began after a verbal argument about politics and the president.
While the U.S. Bank Arena has faced criticism for hosting Trump rallies, a spokesperson for the bank, Cheryl Leamon, stated that the naming rights deal does not allow them to influence what occurs at the arena.
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Hundreds responded to the Bank's tweet announcing Trump's 2019 rally
On July 8, 2019, U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati announced via Twitter that former US President Donald Trump would hold a rally at the venue on August 1. The tweet sparked a backlash, with hundreds of responses expressing outrage at both the bank and the arena. Many threatened to close their accounts with U.S. Bank, with some calling for a boycott of the company.
One Twitter user, Mary Ann Novak, questioned why the bank would "allow such hate-filled rhetoric in an arena with [its] name on it". She added that she did not bank with U.S. Bank and would not do so in the future. Another user, @MyKidsMomBB8, threatened to leave the bank if it did not reject Trump's "hate" and cancel its cooperation with him.
Lisa Silverman, a self-proclaimed 30-year customer of U.S. Bank, also threatened to cancel her account, urging the bank not to "give [Trump] the vehicle to spread his vicious and fascist speech". However, a handful of people defended U.S. Bank, with a poster named Regina encouraging the arena to "not let the people on the left bully you".
Despite the controversy, a U.S. Bank spokesperson, Cheryl Leamon, stated that the backlash was confined to online comments and that the company was not seeing a response from its customers. She also noted that the bank's naming rights did not allow it to influence what occurred at the arena. This was not the first time the U.S. Bank Arena had hosted a Trump rally; in 2016, Trump held a rally there as part of his "Thank You" tour after winning the election.
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Dozens threatened to close their accounts with U.S. Bank
On July 8, 2019, U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, formerly known as the Firstar Center, announced via Twitter that Donald Trump would hold a rally at the arena on August 1. The tweet received hundreds of responses, with many expressing outrage at the venue and the bank. Dozens threatened to close their bank accounts with U.S. Bank.
One Twitter user, Mary Ann Novak, tweeted, "Why on earth would you allow such hate-filled rhetoric in an arena with your name on it? Risky business. Good news is, I don't and won't bank with U.S. Bank." An online petition by an anti-National Rifle Association activist to pressure U.S. Bank to cancel the rally garnered over 6,000 signatures.
U.S. Bank spokesperson Cheryl Leamon stated that the controversy was confined to online comments and that the company was not seeing a response from its customers. She also noted that the bank's naming rights did not allow influence on what occurred at the arena. However, this was not the first time U.S. Bank Arena had hosted a Trump rally. In 2016, weeks after winning the election, Trump held a rally at the arena as part of his "Thank You" tour.
The announcement and subsequent controversy highlight the potential risks for venues associated with hosting controversial events and speakers. The U.S. Bank Arena's management did not respond to messages seeking comment on the matter. The rally proceeded on August 1, and a fight broke out between a Trump supporter and a protester outside the arena, resulting in the arrest of the Trump supporter.
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Over 6,000 signed a petition to pressure U.S. Bank to cancel the rally
In 2016, a student petition aimed to cancel a Trump rally in Chicago, with nearly 43,000 signatures arguing that the rally "has no place in Chicago but especially not at an institution of higher learning". The petition highlighted concerns about violence at Trump rallies, stating that "in many instances, Trump rallies have led to students, youth, and people of color being violently attacked by attendees". Local politicians, including Ald. Ray Lopez (15th Ward) and Congressman Luis Gutierrez, pledged to protest the rally as well.
In 2019, a similar incident occurred when over 6,000 people signed an online petition to pressure U.S. Bank to cancel a Trump rally at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati. The petition, started by an anti-National Rifle Association activist, sparked outrage online, with people threatening to close their bank accounts with U.S. Bank. The controversy arose from U.S. Bank's naming rights to the arena, with people questioning why the bank would allow its name to be associated with such a divisive event.
While some people defended U.S. Bank, arguing that the naming rights did not imply influence over the arena's events, the incident highlighted the potential risks for companies when their brands are associated with controversial events or figures. It also demonstrated the power of online petitions and social media in amplifying public sentiment and exerting pressure on corporations to respond to social and political issues.
The U.S. Bank Arena had previously hosted a Trump rally in 2016 as part of his "Thank You" tour after winning the election. However, the 2019 rally sparked a more intense backlash, with the public, politicians, and activists scrutinizing the intersection of politics and corporate branding.
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A fight broke out outside the 2019 rally, resulting in an arrest
On July 8, 2019, U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio, announced via Twitter that former President Donald Trump would hold a rally at the venue on August 1. The announcement sparked a wave of online backlash and anger towards both the arena and the bank, with hundreds of responses to the tweet expressing negative sentiments. Many individuals threatened to close their bank accounts with U.S. Bank, and an online petition was created by an anti-NRA activist to pressure the bank to cancel the rally. Despite the controversy, the rally went ahead as planned.
During the 2019 rally, a fight broke out outside the venue, resulting in an arrest. Details regarding the fight and the arrest remain scarce, with no official reports or statements released by the authorities. It is unclear what sparked the altercation or how many individuals were involved. However, it is known that at least one person was arrested by the police and later released.
The arrest was made by the local law enforcement officers who were present at the rally to maintain order and ensure the safety of those in attendance. While the reason for the fight and the specific charges pressed against the individual who was arrested remain unknown, it is likely that the incident was related to the rally and the presence of Donald Trump, as his rallies have often been associated with heightened tensions and passionate expressions of support and opposition.
The U.S. Bank Arena and the surrounding area have witnessed similar incidents in the past, with Donald Trump's rallies attracting both strong supporters and vehement protesters. The 2019 rally in Cincinnati was no exception, with the online backlash preceding the event and the fight outside the arena reflecting the divisive nature of Trump's political gatherings. While the arrest suggests a potential escalation of tensions, it also highlights the presence and responsiveness of law enforcement in ensuring that any conflicts or violations are addressed promptly.
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Frequently asked questions
No, but he did hold a rally there in 2019.
No, hundreds of people responded to the announcement of Trump's rally with outrage, threatening to close their bank accounts with US Bank.
Yes, a fight broke out between a Trump supporter and a protester outside the arena.
Yes, a US Bank spokesperson said that the controversy was confined to online comments and that they were not seeing a response from their customers.
No, Trump previously held a rally there in 2016 as part of his "Thank You" tour.
