The announcement that former President Donald Trump will stop through Albuquerque for a campaign rally on Thursday set off a rollercoaster of political tension, along with uncertainty about the location and where attendees should park.
While there is now a location for the rally and a plan for parking and shuttle services there’s still partisan fighting about access to parking.
The Republican Party of New Mexico announced Trump’s visit over the weekend on X — formerly known as Twitter — and said the rally would be on Thursday. A link to register for the event was included, but the location was not specified.
The registration link was dead by Monday, and Albuquerque was still not listed as one of Trump’s stops on his campaign website. By late afternoon the registration link was back up and Albuquerque was listed on the campaign’s event page with the location listed as CSI Aviation, near the Albuquerque International Sunport.
After the location was made public, a spokesperson for the Sunport on Tuesday said a shuttle service would be provided between the Isleta Amphitheater parking lot and CSI Aviation. However, early Wednesday morning, the New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands Stephanie Garcia Richard announced in a press release that the amphitheater — subleased by Live Nation Entertainment — could not be used for parking for the Trump rally.
“Live Nation Entertainment has a sublease with the State Land Office that permits it to use the parking lot of the Isleta Amphitheater only if the event occurs at the amphitheater,” Garcia Richard said in the news release.
Live Nation Entertainment did not respond to requests for comment.
Joey Keefe, a spokesperson for the New Mexico State Land Office, said if Live Nation Entertainment allowed parking without permission, it would be considered trespassing.
By Wednesday afternoon, the Trump campaign released updated parking and shuttle information that directs guests to park in three separate lots surrounding CSI Aviation. Guests can now park at 5441 Turing Dr. SE, 1501 Aircraft Ave. SE and 2702 Stryker Rd. SE.
Though the parking situation seems to be fixed, New Mexico House Republicans sent a letter to Garcia Richard Wednesday afternoon claiming that her decision to prohibit the amphitheater from using its parking is a “blatant effort to deny voters access to their presidential candidate” and urged her to reconsider and allow the amphitheater parking lot to be used.
“Whether you plan to support this candidate or not, it is your responsibility as a public official to ensure a fair and accessible environment for all candidates, allowing them to present their ideas and engage with voters,” the letter stated.
Read more about local politicians’ thoughts on Trump’s visit here.