Donald Trump and Bill O’Reilly both spoke about large audiences ahead of their “History Tour.” However, according to local media, it began at the FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida, with many empty seats.
“Massive crowd headed into FLA Live! The Trump/O’Reilly History show starts soon…,”On Saturday, former Fox anchor Bill O’Reilly took to Twitter.
“See you in Sunrise, FL, in a little while and tomorrow, Orlando,” the former president said in a statement. “Big crowds!”
Massive crowd headed into FLA Live! The Trump/O’Reilly History show starts soon… pic.twitter.com/8PfZgHHckw
— Bill O’Reilly (@BillOReilly) December 11, 2021
The “cavernous” FLA Live Arena, on the other hand, had numerous seats that remained unoccupied, according to the Sun-Sentinel. According to the publication, the upper level was cut off and individuals who had tickets for that area were “upgraded” to the lower bowl.
Pictures on social media showed the upper deck of the stadium totally vacant, though it was unclear when they were shot, with empty chairs strewn around.
Trump amused the audience by criticizing Vice President Joe Biden, declaring that the United States was no longer great, and repeating unfounded accusations that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
“Our country in my opinion is no longer respected,” he said. “Every country in the world takes advantage of the United States.”
He later added: “It’s a horrible thing to say but I don’t feel America, right now, is great.”
At one point, Trump praised his predecessor, former President Barack Obama, calling him “smart and sharp.”
Trump added of Obama, “I liked him,” while he faulted him for fostering “tremendous divisiveness” in the nation.
Trump also told the audience that while in office, he got along best with “tyrants” like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“The ones I did the best with were the tyrants,” he said. “For whatever reason, I got along great with Putin, I got along great with President Xi of China. I got along with Kim Jong Un of North Korea… and isn’t that good? Isn’t that better than having a nuclear war?”
Trump also addressed the violent incident at the United States Capitol on January 6, when a mob of his supporters stormed the building in an attempt to prevent Biden’s election win from being certified. “There was love in the air,” Trump declared.
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
On Sunday, Trump and O’Reilly’s trip will stop at Orlando’s Amway Center before heading to Texas, where they will visit the Toyota Center in Houston and the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
Thousands of tickets for all four shows were still freely available days before the tour started, according to prior reports.
However, those that did sell went for at least $100 apiece, with VIP and premium tickets fetching several thousand dollars.
It has happened before with events with Trump and O’Reilly.
According to a Politico report, former Trump is having trouble selling tickets to his upcoming interview tour with O’Reilly (See map of venue below), prompting the former Fox News host to threaten a lawsuit.
Last month, Trump and O’Reilly announced a collaboration called “The History Tour,” which will include interviews that “provide a never-before-heard inside view of his administration — which will be historical in and of itself.” The interviews, Trump promised, would be “hard-hitting sessions” but also “fun, fun, fun” for everyone who attends.
Bill O’Reilly called it “bullsh*t” that ticket sales for his arena show with former President Trump have been slow.
But a Ticketmaster map of the venue shows otherwise (the unsold seats are in blue). https://t.co/ONe26JjVRv pic.twitter.com/Ihd1shLvzv
— Mediaite (@Mediaite) July 16, 2021
Tickets for the tour, which will kick off in four Florida and Texas cities, have been on sale for a month and range from $100 to $300, though the pair is also selling a “VIP Meet & Greet Package” that includes a 45-minute reception prior to the show and backstage photos with Trump and O’Reilly.
This will set you back $8,500.
Despite both men’s repeated promotion of the tour, ticket sales are said to be low.
Trump is having trouble selling tickets for his “History Tour” with Bill O’Reilly, according to venue officials. O’Reilly said his conversations with Trump “will not be boring,” while Trump promised “fun, fun, fun for everyone who attends.” pic.twitter.com/wl02eU51yw
— Hoodlum 🇺🇸 (@NotHoodlum) July 16, 2021
“There’s still a lot of tickets open,” an Amway Center box office employee told Politico, noting that a Bad Bunny concert, which won’t take place until next spring, sold out in two days.
According to sources, a “large number of seats” remain available for the pair’s event at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, while 60% to 65% of seats for the tour stop at the Toyota Center in Houston remain unsold.
It’s unclear how many tickets for the duo’s first show, which is set for Dec. 11 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida, are still available. According to a box office employee, they had expected sales to be “definitely higher” by now.
“It hasn’t been [selling] like crazy,” the employee said, adding that comedians Katt Williams and Joe Rogan’s events sold “significantly” better.
Given how popular other events led by former White House residents have been in recent years, this is an unusual problem for a former president. Former first lady Michelle Obama’s 2018 “Becoming” book tour sold out in two days, including a Chicago event that sold out in minutes.
O’Reilly threatens to sue after media reports “History Tour” with Trump has low ticket sales https://t.co/Prsbr7923L pic.twitter.com/HefmXHkxqr
— The Hill (@thehill) July 18, 2021
Trump and O’Reilly announced their limited engagement ‘history tour,’ in which the former president will be questioned by the former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly on his four years in office.
The events will be held at 18,000-seat venues in Florida and Texas, which are typically used for major sporting events and concerts.
BIG: President Donald J. Trump to Discuss the History of His Administration with Bill O’Reilly in a Limited Engagement National Tour https://t.co/9X7XdOB3xw
— Bill O’Reilly (@BillOReilly) June 7, 2021
“From January 2017 to January 2021, the 45th President of the United States presided over an especially intense period for the United States of America,” embattled O’Reilly said in a statement posted on his website.
“From the pandemic that killed hundreds of thousands, to the speedy development of the vaccine, to the rise of the economy, to the global challenge from China, Donald Trump was the dominant decision-maker and the most powerful person in the world.”
“In a series of live conversations across the country, Mr. Trump and Historian/Journalist Bill O’Reilly will discuss exactly how things were accomplished, as well as challenges, both good and bad!” the statement reads.
Donald Trump will team up with Bill O’Reilly on a ‘History Tour’ that will give never-before-heard insight into the Trump administration: https://t.co/oZCWE2XKgt
— Newsmax (@newsmax) June 8, 2021
O’Reilly, 71, wrote that during the planned “history tour” Trump “will provide a never before heard inside view of his administration – which will be historical in and of itself.”
O’Reilly quoted the former president as saying: “These will be wonderful but hard-hitting sessions where we’ll talk about the real problems happening in the US, those that the Fake News Media never mention.”
“I will be focusing on greatness for our Country, something seldom discussed in political dialogue,” Trump is quoted as saying. “If we don’t make our Country great again, we will soon no longer have a Country!”
TW: Rape
I see Bill O’Reilly is trending. Here’s a quick reminder that he paid $32 million to a victim for what was described as a “nonconsensual sexual relationship.”
Rape. That’s rape.
— jane, mentally illin’ (@JanieGotHerGun) June 7, 2021
“Conversations with the 45th president will not be boring,’ “O’Reilly added, in an apparent jab at President Joe Biden.
Three dates have been set as of Tuesday, with a fourth yet to be established.
The first event will take held at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida on December 11th. The Florida Panthers play their home games in the 25,000-seat arena, which also accommodates concerts and events.
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