MANASSAS, Va. — Donald Trump on Wednesday swept into the hills of Virginia, not far from one of the great battlefields of the Civil War, and declared that America is in the throes of another civil war, this time for the very future of the nation.

“We have to be heard now, folks, because our country’s going to hell,” the billionaire real estate mogul and Republican presidential candidate said to applause. “We used to be so proud. Now we feel so stupid. We’re being led by stupid people. And we can’t have it anymore. We can’t have it anymore. It’s unbelievable!”

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But Trump, in an 80-minute speech, said the “movement” he’s leading to “make America great again” is changing the dynamics of the 2016 presidential election.

“I used to call it a silent majority,” Trump said to the huge throng of supporters packed into the field house at the Prince William County Fairgrounds. “It’s not a silent majority; it’s really become a noisy majority.”

Hundreds were on hand in Manassas for the indoor rally, ranging from diehard supporters to fence-sitters to the merely curious. Many attendees were attracted to Trump’s comments regarding the economy and trade, and his tell-it-like-it-is attitude. But most in the house were drawn there by statements Trump has made about illegal immigration.

Virginia is a critical swing state, and Northern Virginia leans heavily Democratic. Prince William County, as well as much of Northern Virginia, is being transformed by immigration, both legal and illegal. While President Obama twice won the state, Trump’s draw there on a rainy Wednesday night suggests he could have general election strength in an area that other GOP candidates who shy away from the immigration issue lack.

The event even drew people who are too young to vote.

“I like his stance against illegal immigrants,” said Abby Voggenreiter, a high school senior from Gainesville, Virginia.

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“There are kids at our school who aren’t legal,” she added.

Abby’s classmate, Sarah Wright, indicated that the presence of so many non-English speakers is setting back her education.

“At Parkside Middle School (in Manassas), they have classes where most of the people don’t speak English, so they’re aiming the teaching to help the (kids) that didn’t have the basics, not to help better people and make us succeed … You’re (an American kid) in class and in sixth or seventh grade, and you’re basically learning kindergarten English.”

Those who traveled to Manassas to see Trump insult his opponents surely left satisfied — he took familiar shots at the media (“so dishonest”), President Obama (“nothing he does is correct”), former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (“starts speaking, everybody falls asleep”), and Ohio Gov. Kasich (“he’s a professional politician? He can’t speak properly”). But anyone who came to learn exactly how Trump will make Mexico pay for that wall, or precisely how he will ensure better trade deals, most certainly left the rally frustrated.

Trump also appeared to use Wednesday night as a chance to address the concerns of those who generally dislike the GOP base.

Trump is still not big on details.

The billionaire also appeared to use Wednesday night as a chance to address the concerns of those who generally dislike the GOP base, possibly in an attempt to widen his appeal among GOP moderates and centrist Democrats.

The rally began with the not-so-subtle stunt of Trump bringing up to the stage a number of black pastors. Later, attendees were treated to a rant about college tuition and student loans, in which Trump said, “We gotta help them out,” suggesting the federal government forgive student loan debt. The crowd’s reaction was tepid at best compared to some of the evening’s earlier cheering.

He stated, “You know you have some great people in government, you really do,” and promised, “We’re not going to cut Social Security, we’re not going to cut Medicare.” He then railed against retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson for wanting to cut Medicaid, and both Carson and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for wishing to reform Social Security.

Before the rally began, Denise Pitts, an undecided voter who said she went Wednesday to see if she could be convinced by Trump, said, “In the past I’ve voted Republican and consider myself conservative, but I’m not sure Donald Trump is all those things.”

The numerous people who left the venue before Trump had even finished his appearance — what looked like almost a third of the crowd — may have felt the same way.