The Flathead Valley was abuzz Wednesday before and during President Donald Trump’s arrival in Kalispell for a campaign rally.

The visit was part of a last-minute nationwide tour aimed at securing GOP wins in the upcoming midterm election.  

Motorists sat in standstill traffic on U.S. 93 as rally-goers made their way to Majestic Valley Arena, while others gathered around Glacier Park International Airport to watch Air Force One arrive.  

Bumper-to-bumper traffic blanketed the north and southbound sides of U.S. 93 while cars exited onto Church Drive to get to the venue’s parking area. Dozens of Flathead County Sheriff’s deputies guided motorists as they inched in a single file line across the lawn south of the venue, which had been designated for parking. 

Others skipped the designated parking altogether. Parked cars quickly filled the streets of the nearby Silverbrook Estates neighborhood as people departed their vehicles to embark toward the arena. 

“A lot more cars in the neighborhood than normal,” Silverbrook resident Mark Hunthrop said. 

The 61-year-old was walking his dog around the neighborhood to catch a glimpse of the crowd forming as people waited to enter the arena.  

“It doesn’t matter which side of the aisle you sit, for a president that’s in office to come visit small-town Kalispell is a big deal,” he said.   

Protesters lined the southbound ramp connecting Church Drive with U.S. 93, holding signs calling for Trump’s impeachment and chanting as motorists inched toward the arena. Tensions simmered as some demonstrators exchanged words with motorists who lowered their windows as they passed.  

Flathead County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol vehicles swarmed up and down U.S. 93 and U.S. 2, and the connector roads in between.  

TRAVELERS INSIDE Glacier Park International Airport stayed glued to the terminal’s windows in anticipation of the commander in chief’s arrival on Air Force One. 

A mother and her child — who had nabbed an airport visitor pass to see the spectacle — frequently checked a flight radar app attempting to track Trump’s movements as he left a rally in Arizona. The timing of president’s arrival was kept well under wraps. 

Outside of the terminal, property owners with clear views of the runway waited on their lawns armed with binoculars as they waited for the iconic airplane to make a landing.  

Rick Lewis, 70, had been parked on a gravel lot by the airport since around 1 p.m. waiting to see Trump touch down on the tarmac. He said he watched a Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey plane helicopter take off earlier in the day, but other than that, operations at the airport looked typical.  

“We thought maybe a couple hours we’d be out, and then once you get tied into it, it’s like, alright we’re already here,” Lewis said.  

But the plane enthusiast said he didn’t mind the wait, regularly checking a flight radar on his phone. He said he was taking the role of spotter for his friend at Majestic Valley Arena.  

Behind Lewis, several people adorned in cowboy hats were tailgating facing the runway, assembling foldable chairs and tables in front of their camper vans on the Glacier International Lodge lot. 

Trump landed around 6:30 p.m. after approaching from the north side of Glacier Park International Airport’s runway. The president was originally slated to make an appearance at the arena 15 minutes prior.  

A couple dozen people — including visitor pass holders, travelers and employees — whipped out their phones to capture the landing. Several people laughed as they raced across the terminal to watch the Boeing 757 be taxied to the hangar area.  

The plane was adorned with a deep blue base, red stripe, and United States of America emblazoned on the side.  

The president’s motorcade, which included several emergency vehicles from local fire departments, followed shortly after moving onto Trumble Creek Road. U.S. 2 was temporarily closed while it moved and portions of U.S. 93 were closed indefinitely during Trump’s arrival and departure, according to the Sheriff’s Office. 

After the presidential motorcade departed, the terminal quickly cleared as travelers boarded resumed flights. 

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 406-758-4407 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.

    First responders and Montana Highway Patrol troopers block U.S. 93 at the intersection with Tronstad Road in advance of President Donald Trump's campaign stop in Kalispell on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026. The president's motorcade traveled between Glacier Park International Airport and Majestic Valley Arena via Birch Grove, Whitefish Stage and Tronstad Road. (Matt Baldwin/Daily Inter Lake)