Donald Trump to speak at Florida Gulf Coast University rally

President Donald J. Trump is scheduled to appear as a featured speaker at a midterm rally at Florida Gulf Coast University’s (FGCU) Alico Arena on Friday, Oct. 23. The event, organized by the Trump 47 Committee, will also feature other prominent Florida elected officials, including Republican gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds.

FGCU President Aysegul Timur confirmed the event in a campus-wide email, stating that the university provides facilities for privately organized events to uphold values of free expression and civil discourse. Timur clarified that the university does not sponsor, fund, or endorse the event or the viewpoints presented.

To accommodate the anticipated traffic, FGCU is moving most campus operations and in-class teaching to remote formats for Friday. Several campus facilities, including parking garages and areas surrounding Alico Arena, will face closures or restrictions starting Thursday evening through Saturday.