Surreal.
Virginia Macha uses that word repeatedly to describe her experience last weekend, when she had the chance to attend President Donald Trumps rally for Republican gubernatorial candidate Kris Kobach. Not only did she meet President Trump, she was one of just 20 Kansans who attended a roundtable discussion before the start of the rally to talk about issues including tariffs, ethanol, immigration and more.
The Oct. 6 event came just hours after the contentious confirmation and swearing in of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, as Trump was en route to Topeka.
He was very jovial. He was in a rare mood, Macha said of Trump. Youre in this room and you have no idea what the crowd looks like but you could just feel the energy. You could hear the crowd chanting and every time they would chant real loud, he would turn around. It was just calling him out there.
The rally itself was telecast live on national cable news networks.
Kansas doesnt get that kind of opportunity to be in the spotlight. It was pretty surreal to think I was there.
MACHAS SUPPORT for Trump began in June 2015, almost immediately after the New York businessman descended an escalator at Trump Tower to announce he was running for president. Macha spent an hour at a Kinkos designing her own version of a Trump support button in the days before MAGA merchandise became readily available. Later, she served as a Kansas delegate for Trump at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
Machas political activism is well-known throughout the state. Her role as president of the Kansas Fair Board allows her to interact with representatives of both major political parties. She considers Kobach a friend.
When she heard Trump planned a rally to support Kobach, she jokingly demanded a seat on the front row. Rally organizers did her one better. Two days before the rally, she got a text that read, Youre in.
Then, of course, the next question you ask is What do I wear? Macha said, laughing. Youre at a rally but (the roundtable) is serious. So I went very unserious. I wore a jacket but I was ready to really rally the troops.
She chose a patriotic red-white-and-blue kerchief scarf over a white blouse with white and blue checkered pants.
The other roundtable attendees state political leaders like Senate President Susan Wagle and Attorney General Derek Schmidt, along with farmers and businessmen wore much more sober attire. Suits and the like.
Macha stood out. Trump noticed.
Nice outfit. I like that. Its fun, the president told her as they prepared to take a photograph together. This will be a great picture. Youve got a great smile.
He shook her hand with his signature handshake a very strong handshake, very firm, Macha said.
She sat between a cattle rancher from the northwest part of the state and a businessman from the Topeka area.
Trump cracked a few jokes and talked about his relationship with Kobach, one of his earliest supporters, and the still-fresh fight over Kavanaughs confirmation.
He was very sincere when he talked about the folks. These are the ones who put me here. These are the ones I like to talk to, Macha recalled the president saying.
