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Donald Trump Jr. mocked for speaking to an almost-empty arena at Kentucky rally: 'I could fit this in my house'

President Trump's eldest son, who often accompanies his father on the campaign trail, was helping out fellow Republican and Pikeville Gov. Matt Bevin in his re-election bid against Democratic opponent Andy Beshear.

Donald Trump Jr. came in for quite a bit of ribbing after he spoke to a small crowd at a rally last week in Pikeville, Kentucky, reportedly numbering only a few hundred attendees.

President Trump's eldest son, who often accompanies his father on the campaign trail, was helping out fellow Republican and Pikeville Gov. Matt Bevin in his re-election bid against Democratic opponent Andy Beshear, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports. During his speech, Don Jr acknowledged the region's longtime allegiance to Democrats but warned voters "this is not your grandfather's Democratic Party." That said, his father had won Pike County in the 2016 election.

About 200 supporters showed up for the event, according to Louisville radio station WFPL, despite previous reports claiming “locals expect a memorable turnout” at the Appalachian Wireless Arena, which has a capacity of at least 7,000 guests.

However, the scene was "mostly empty", as described by the Herald-Leader. WFPL reporter Ryland Barton tweeted a photo of the "sparsely attended" rally, complaining it was so poorly attended that organizers requested the audience to move closer to the dais. The pictures and videos from the event drew mockery from Trump's critics online, given the president often boasts of the swarming crowds at his phenomenal rallies. 

“Is this the saddest, most pathetic, ‘rally’ in gubernatorial history? The fact that @DonaldJTrumpJr is there makes it that much more enjoyable. Quite the draw there, Jr!” one user wrote. “I could fit this Don Jr rally in my house and not violate fire code," another quipped.

According to the Herald-Leader, Gov. Bevin, 52, won the historically Democrat-leaning Pike County four years ago with 54.8% of the vote. In 2019, he won the state but lost Pike County during the Republican primary. 

Sam Newton, a spokesman for Beshear's campaign, was quick to pounce on the news of the sparsely attended rally and in a statement to WFPL said, “Matt Bevin’s small and poorly attended political event will do nothing to make the families of Eastern Kentucky forget how he’s attacked public education, ripped away health care, and insulted teachers."

Beshear and Bevin will face each other in the general election on November 5.