President Donald Trump’s rallies are recognized for their large attendance and cramped crowds. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump has had issues reviving the same fervor and energy he would get from crowds in the lead-up to his election in 2016, despite multiple attempts.

One example of this exists in his June rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The rally ended with six confirmed cases of COVID-19 amongst attendees, which included Trump staffers, secret service and a journalist, but also resulted in the death of a well-known Republican, Herman Cain, after complications from COVID-19. 

After the event, Trump began to question the viability of rallies due to the empty seats required for social distancing.

Due to this, Trump supporters have attempted to come together in support of the president in new and creative ways, such as boat parades.

These boat parades have grown popular nationwide, but some of these events have gone awry. 

The first incident occurred in Portland, Oregon on Aug. 17. A boat unaffiliated with the event sank due to the strong waves created by the large number of boating supporters.

A second incident occurred in Lake Travis, Texas on Sept. 5 where five boats, that were all involved with the parade, sank due to strong waves.

The next day, Sept. 6 or Labor Day, in River Walls, Wisconsin, a docked boat that was not affiliated with the event capsized due to the large amount of waves generated.

Other boat parades across the country include Houston, Texas, Stratford, Connecticut and Bay City, Michigan to name a few. 

In Clearwater Beach, Florida, Trump boat parade organizers claim to have broken a world record of most vessels out on the water together. The current world record tops out at 1,180, but organizers claim to have come close to those numbers. The Guinness World Records is currently looking into the matter.

While in Manhattan, a Trump boating group called “Boaters for Trump New York” had a remembrance in honor of 9/11. The event was strictly non-political, with invitations sent out to both Trump-supporters as well as Democrats.

Trump expressed gratitude to all who were involved in such parades through a statement on Twitter, where he said that he wished he could be down there with his supporters aboard their boats.

Most of these events gain traction through Facebook groups such as “The Official Trump Boat Public Group” and many other similarly titled groups.

As Election Day nears, supporters of both major candidates will find ways to support their candidate and establish that typical election momentum seen in previous years.