President Trump posted several tweets Friday night pushing back against “fake news” reports that he spoke to an empty arena at a campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire Thursday. Photos showing empty seats behind Trump and in the upper level of SNHU Arena were used by liberal activists and media to promote the hashtag #EmptySeatMAGATour on Twitter. The activists and media ignored the thousands of Trump supporters outside the arena who watched from outside because they were not allowed in after the doors were shut by authorities. Activists falsely claimed a campaign to reserve tickets and not show for the rally had succeeded, but officials involved with the rally said there was a record crowd inside, regardless of the empty seats.

TGP reported Thursday night about the issue of hundreds of empty seats while several thousand Trump supporters were kept outside.

The Daily Mail reported earlier Friday the Manchester deputy fire marshal said Trump’s crowd was 11,500 with maybe a few more, while an arena official told the Mail that the empty upper deck seats were from people packing the floor instead.

Manchester Deputy Fire Marshal Mitchell Cady told DailyMail.com that Trump was right – that his crowd numbered ‘just over 11,500.’ TRENDING: BREAKING REPORT: President Trump to Nominate Amy Coney Barrett to Replace Ginsburg on the Supreme Court Calling the president’s tweet ‘a topic of discussion around here,’ Cady revealed that ‘the arena staff said Elton John was around 11,300’ in April 2004. Cady also said his office estimated that at least 8,000 people stood outside the arena in an overflow crowd area, watching the rally on jumbo TV screens. …An official at the SNHU Arena who declined to be named, saying, ‘You’re not going to get me involved in all this political fighting,’ said Friday that empty ‘nosebleed seats’ would have been offset ‘by all the people cramming themselves into the standing-room space on the arena floor.’ ‘The Trump people wanted the fire marshal to let more people in, and at some point they say no,’ the official said. But there were tons and tons more outside. It’s not like they couldn’t fill the place.’

Trump posted Friday night after the #EmptySeatMAGATour hashtag trended most of the day on Twitter with reports on The Hill and Raw Story pushing the empty arena.

“Great time in New Hampshire last night. Placed was maxed out, totally packed, with thousands coming to the arena floor at start. Thousands more outside that were not allowed in per code. Energy was really great to see. We will win New Hampshire in 2020!”

“Look at the tremendous overflow at packed arena in New Hampshire last night. Sorry we couldn’t get you in, will be back soon!”

“Biggest crowd EVER, according to Arena people. Thousands outside trying to get in. Place was packed! Radical Left Dems & their Partner, LameStream Media, saying Arena empty. Check out pictures. Fake News. The Enemy of the People!”

Great time in New Hampshire last night. Placed was maxed out, totally packed, with thousands coming to the arena floor at start. Thousands more outside that were not allowed in per code. Energy was really great to see. We will win New Hampshire in 2020! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2019

Look at the tremendous overflow at packed arena in New Hampshire last night. Sorry we couldn’t get you in, will be back soon! pic.twitter.com/Rvd2TeJrpo — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2019

Biggest crowd EVER, according to Arena people. Thousands outside trying to get in. Place was packed! Radical Left Dems & their Partner, LameStream Media, saying Arena empty. Check out pictures. Fake News. The Enemy of the People! https://t.co/KkZWspM93a — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 17, 2019

The Hill article did not mention the thousands outside the arena.

#EmptySeatMAGATour trends after footage shows empty seats at Trump rally he claimed broke Elton John's record attendance https://t.co/BdCKZk7tiU pic.twitter.com/0r8kR4cN3h — The Hill (@thehill) August 16, 2019

As did Raw Story:

Trump bragged about the size of his crowd — but Fox News showed empty seats

https://t.co/qBEAnXZnP2 — Raw Story (@RawStory) August 17, 2019

The overflow crowd of supporters outside the arena was huge, as video and photos show:

THOUSANDS watching ⁦@realDonaldTrump⁩ from OUTSIDE the Manchester, New Hampshire arena! pic.twitter.com/BINMd3AYRs — Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) August 16, 2019

There is nothing like a Trump Rally! So much energy and so many dedicated supporters! The doors closed and thousands stayed to watch outside. #KAG #nhpolitics pic.twitter.com/oeBdjYDx29 — Michael Swetz (@MikeySwetz) August 16, 2019

People outside the Trump rally that couldn’t get in pic.twitter.com/IpmU2Ss2Mw — Trump2020 (@Shadowbanned941) August 16, 2019

Many of these people now gathered the outside SNHU Arena had tickets to listen to President Trump inside but were prevented from doing so due to crowd size. #wcvb pic.twitter.com/tGNEehGetO — Julie Loncich (@JulieLoncich) August 15, 2019

Overflow outside the @realdonaldtrump rally in Manchester, NH tonight pic.twitter.com/cIzptok3a3 — Elizabeth Landers (@ElizLanders) August 15, 2019

But inside there were hundreds of empty seats, mainly in the upper deck but also about a dozen were seen behind Trump when he spoke.

Interesting — because there are still plenty of seats inside. #WCVB pic.twitter.com/1bE4dUGxPN — Ben Simmoneau (@bensimmoneau) August 16, 2019

Trump loves to claim his rallies are sold out and overflowing into the streets outside. A rare Fox camera pan to the top of the arena at tonight’s Trump rally in NH shows empty seats pic.twitter.com/hkV4w8krW5 — Jon Passantino (@passantino) August 16, 2019

Lewandowski and Trump (in distance) pic.twitter.com/008oDmpE8v — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 16, 2019

Additional protesters interrupting Trump’s rally here tonight in Manchester and highlighting there are more empty seats than usual in the upper sections as the president passes the 75-minute mark pic.twitter.com/nUOQllXJB0 — Monica Alba (@albamonica) August 16, 2019

Noting that when Trump says the stadium is full there are literally empty seats behind him. Yeah, those aren’t great seats, some obstructed by the flag … but that is not full pic.twitter.com/bLj48mBwzR — Shannon Pettypiece (@spettypi) August 16, 2019

Trump’s post of photos from the rally are framed on the lower bowl.

This video by a Trump supporter shows more than a few empty obstructed view seats. The pan of the video shows hundreds of empty seats all around the upper deck, more than is usually seen during a Trump rally–and matches the photo by reporter Ben Simmoneau.

A few empty seats in the rafters (obstructed view). Otherwise, a crowd of 12,000 and thousands still outside! @realDonaldTrump @parscale #EmptySeatMAGATour pic.twitter.com/MuW8E3aT2s — JT Lewis (@thejtlewis) August 16, 2019

This report by WCVB-TV on the thousands outside the arena notes at the end an estimate of a thousand empty seats.

Maybe next time the advance team can talk to the the fire marshal about increasing capacity if the floor can be packed while the upper deck is barely filled.