President-elect Donald Trump will begin a "Thank You Tour" on Thursday in Cincinnati, replicating the arena events that powered his surprise campaign, three of his transition officials said.
The Republican has credited his rallies as a central component of his victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton. The events at times drew tens of thousands of people and were often broadcast live and in their entirety on cable news networks, affording him a practically unfiltered channel to voters.
His post-election tour may take him to "swing states we flipped over," George Gigicos, Trump’s director of advance, told reporters on Nov. 17. Trump won Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Florida, all states President Barack Obama won twice.
He corrected reporters who called it a "victory tour."
“‘Thank you tour,’ Gigicos said. "It’s not a ‘victory tour.’"
The Cincinnati event will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday at US Bank Arena, a previous venue for a Trump rally.
Stops after Cincinnati will be announced once venues are booked, the officials said. His second event tentatively is scheduled for Des Moines, Iowa.