Two women from Owensboro found themselves just feet away from President Donald Trump this week after a last-minute road trip and hours of waiting in stormy weather earned them a spot directly behind the president during a rally in northern Kentucky.
Janet Wink and Tonya Murphy traveled to Hebron on Tuesday after learning only days earlier that Trump would appear at a campaign rally at the Verst Logistics facility. The event was held in support of congressional candidate Ed Gallrein in a Republican primary challenge against longtime U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie.
For Wink, the trip began as a spontaneous idea among friends.
“It started out as a road trip for five of us ladies that are really close,” Wink said. “We talked about going to see him and waiting for the opportunity to get closer, not really sure how close he was going to get.”
After hearing about the rally Monday night through a friend’s family member, the group quickly arranged travel plans and booked a hotel. However, severe weather forecasts and uncertainty surrounding the event caused others to back out, leaving Wink and Murphy determined to make the trip.
“I looked at Tonya and told her, ‘This was on your bucket list,’” Wink said. “If you want to go, let’s go. Let’s do this.”
The two arrived before daylight Wednesday morning and waited outside for hours as rain and strong winds moved through the area.
“We were there about 6:30 in the morning,” Wink said. “There were tornado watches, thunder and lightning, blowing rain. It was a mess, but I told her I would do it all over again.”
Murphy said they prepared for the difficult weather conditions.
“I had trash bags and tape, and taped trash bags to my shoes,” Murphy said. “We had throwaway chairs, ponchos and even a painter’s tarp in case the winds got really bad.”
Despite the weather, the women remained first in line for general admission as crowds gathered outside the facility.
“We didn’t want to drive three and a half hours and get to the door and be told it was full,” Murphy said.
The rally drew a large crowd to the Boone County logistics facility, where supporters gathered to hear Trump speak and promote the congressional campaign.
After waiting for hours and passing through security, Wink and Murphy said they were unexpectedly offered a chance to stand on stage behind the president.
“There was a lady there who asked us if we wanted to sit or be behind the president,” Wink said. “We both looked at each other and said, ‘Heck yeah, we do.’”
The women said they ended up standing about 15 feet behind Trump while he addressed the crowd.
“When he walked in, the electricity in the place changed,” Wink said. “They started playing ‘YMCA,’ and the whole place just erupted.”
Murphy described the experience as surreal.
“That was just awesome,” Murphy said. “It was almost like a high or something. We were just on cloud nine.”
Their appearance during the rally quickly caught the attention of friends and family back home.
“Our phones blew up,” Wink said. “People were taking screenshots of their TVs and sending them to us.”
Murphy said the moment fulfilled a long-time goal.
“Bucket list checked off,” Murphy said. “The plan was just to get in the door and sit in a chair. Who would have thought we’d end up standing right behind him?”
Both women said the long wait, stormy conditions and travel were well worth the experience.
“I told her I’d do it all over again,” Wink said. “It was just an amazing experience.”
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