RE: WHY was Trump the first President (or at least Republican President) to speak at this rally?
There is tremendous mental and spiritual freedom in NOT CARING what people say about you. To Trump, what the MSM says don’t amount to a hill of beans.
“I will care what you say, only if I value your opinion”
The two Bushes ( father and son ) wanted to straddle the middle, saying that they are pro-life, yet fearing that they will be perceived as anti-woman ( as if there are no women who are pro-life ). In other words, the Bushes feared negative press. Trump could care less. Heck, he calls them fake news.
i think the Bush women had their opinions. That could have been an influence.