Cocke County Mayor Rob Mathis called being a delegate at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee “an absolutely amazing experience,” having the opportunity to see Donald Trump and hear him speak for the first time in person.
Mathis was accompanied on the trip by his wife Missy and their 21-year-old daughter Isabelle.
“In my lifetime, if I could choose any president to be a delegate for, it would be Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump,” Mathis said. “I am very fortunate to have this opportunity to be a delegate for Trump. This is more than just going to a convention. It is playing a part in saving our country. It was an absolutely amazing experience.”
The experience was especially poignant coming after Trump survived an assassination attempt July 13 during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.
While Trump wasn’t supposed to appear at the RNC until the third night, rumors started that he would appear the first evening. Some people reported seeing the motorcade. When an announcement was made to make an introduction later, everyone was anticipating it to say Trump had arrived, but they were introducing Lee Greenwood, who sang “God Bless the U.S.A.”
As Greenwood sang the line, “I am proud to be an American,” Trump could be seen walking in.
“The crowd went wild,” Mathis said. Chants of “Trump! Trump!” and “Fight! Fight!” could be heard throughout the building.
Trump had a bandage on his ear from the assassination attempt, and Mathis said from the expression on Trump’s face, he had a different mindset. “There was something different about him,” he said. “It was emotional in every sense.”
Isabelle and Missy Mathis said they got goosebumps when they saw Trump and heard him address the convention on Day 4. Rob Mathis said it wasn’t like a speech, but instead, it was like Trump was talking to them personally and referred to him as a wonderful speaker.
Mathis said security was tight right after the assassination attempt at the rally in Pennsylvania, and became increasingly so as the week progressed. He said law enforcement officers from other states, including Pennsylvania and Ohio, were on hand to offer added protection.
He said there were snipers on roofs, multiple drones, police on every corner and a Coast Guard helicopter hovered over the arena.
“From secret service to marshals to deputies and other law enforcement, they were all very professional and super nice,” he said. “They were there to do a job and the convention goers repeatedly thanked them for what they were there doing. They didn’t give anyone a hard time, they did an exemplary job.”
He said proceedings during the first two days were very informal, and people were walking around the floor and talking. When former President Trump and vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance arrived for days three and four, Mathis said security became noticeably tighter.
The Mathis family recalled seeing Trump’s grandchildren coming to sit on his lap and hug him. “They looked happy, it was a natural situation of a grandfather with his grandchildren,” the county mayor, who has two grandchildren of his own, said.
Mathis was contacted by the Trump campaign on Feb. 21 about running for a delegate position. Mathis was the second person in recent county history that a Cocke County resident has been selected to serve as a delegate for a presidential candidate at the RNC. In 2016, Claire Crouch served as a delegate for presidential candidate Ted Cruz and attended the RNC in Cleveland, Ohio.
Mathis received the second highest number of votes of all candidates for the delegate positions. He received 28,514 votes. Mathis said he personally covered the costs associated with the trip.
“It was a great experience,” Mathis said. “I really enjoyed the opportunity to participate.”
“I really appreciate having had the opportunity to be a part of our country’s history,” Rob Mathis said. “I encourage everyone to vote in November. Let your voice be heard.”
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