New Circus Comes to Town: Donald Trump’s Fire Support at Rain-Drown Florida Rally | Donald Trump

[ad_1]

Their confidence in Trump remains steadfast.

Supporters of Donald Trump, the former US president, gathered by the thousands at a rain-soaked rally in Florida on Saturday unaffected by criminal charges against his company.

Two days earlier, the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, pleaded not guilty to tax fraud charges brought by the Manhattan District Attorney (DA). The case in New York may be just the tip of a legal iceberg threatening Trump himself.

But Joe Walsh, the former Republican congressman turned Trump critic, tweeted in response: “Trump supporters already know he’s a tax fraud, a liar, a rule-breaker, and a fraud. They don’t care.”

Interviews conducted at the rally with some of the former president’s most ardent admirers put this hypothesis to the test. Some have already shrugged their shoulders and moved on. Others echoed Trump’s view that the accusations were politically motivated. More than one person prefaced his answer with “that’s nonsense.”

It was clear that the accusations fit perfectly with the current narrative that Democrats, the media, and the “deep state” have been trying to destroy Trump since he launched his candidacy by riding an escalator into Trump Tower in 2015. Any new accusation is interpreted as just another data point to advance the case. .

Anthony Cabrera, 19, student wearing the “Make America Great Again” slogan [Maga] Cap, he spoke to many when he said, “I have no opinion. You hear about it and go on with your day.”

But with some motivation, he explained, “I think it’s hype. Manhattan DA has been trying to get something for a long time. It’s a souvenir.”

And if Trump eventually finds himself in the dock, will the Maga Army rally to his defense? Cabrera said: “I have no doubts. You see the crowd here. Trump has got a lot of enthusiastic support. Escalating something like that for political reasons would not be in the best interest of the country.”

Supporters of former President Donald Trump attend a rally at the Sarasota fairgrounds, the conservatory of Ringling Brothers Circus and Barnum & Bailey. Photo: Octavio Jones/Reuters

Eddie Gottsman, 67, a retired manager, was rude. “I think it’s nonsense,” he said. “It’s a witch hunt. The way they’ve dealt with Trump over the past four years, they’re clearly intent on getting him down. It scares them. I know he’s running in 2024, and if he does, he’s going to win.”

There is much speculation that Weiselberg, who was taken to court in handcuffs, might “flip” to save his skin. But Gottesman said, “I don’t think so because Trump has nothing to hide. He’s always three steps ahead of them, no matter what they tried to do. The Russian complicity was a hoax, all made up lies.”

Ashley Ballinger, 38, a business owner, agreed. “I think the witch hunt is still going on,” she said. “They’ve been trying to get it for years and they still don’t have anything on it. This gentleman has worked with him for years. Trump takes care of his people and they take care of him.”

Trump accused New York state attorney general Letitia James, and Cyrus Vance in Manhattan, of partisanship because they are both Democrats. But Ballinger said, “They’re Republicans and Democrats: They’re all in this together, they’re all politicians. It’s a threat to them and every one of us is a danger to them and that’s what scares them.”

On the eve of Independence Day. Trump’s second campaign after the presidency entitled “Save America!” The gathering was held at the Sarasota Fairgrounds, perhaps fitting for a man often described as a carnival barker or clown. For more than 60 years, Sarasota has been the winter home of the Ringling Brothers Circus and Barnum & Bailey. But John Ringling, the “King of the Sawdust Ring”, lost his fortune and fell on hard times.

The new circus came to town with a man playing guitar and singing “You can stick your poisoned pollen in your ass”; A Trump impersonator in a baggy suit, red tie, blonde wig, and orange makeup jumps all over the field; Trump statue over 10 feet tall with giant outstretched hands; a man wearing a “Trump 2024” hat and a Confederate jacket; An eight-year-old black boy wears a T-shirt that reads: “Trump won.”

But it only became the greatest show on Earth when a small plane, presumably belonging to a Biden voter, flew overhead with the words “Loser-Palooza” rolling in the lights under its wings.

There was food, fireworks, and flags roaring: “Fuck Biden and damn you because you voted for him!” Warm-ups including Matt Gaetz, the congressman from Florida who is under investigation over alleged sex trafficking, and Trump’s son Don Jr who said of the Manhattan affair: “Political persecution will continue because we are no different from Russia, no different from the mullahs in Iran.”

Giant Donald Trump waved his supporters at the rally co-sponsored by the Republican Party in Florida. Photo: Eva Marie Uzcategui / Getty Images

Trump himself launched sermons against the accusations, insisting that they were part of a five-year campaign against him that included the Russia investigation that he claimed exonerated him of complicity. He accused Democratic prosecutors of “arming and corrupting the law” against opponents while allowing violent crimes to rise.

“This is the kind of persecution that they practice, for example in New York, you can see in third world countries,” he said. “It reminds us of a communist dictatorship targeting its political opponents…there is no depth the radical left won’t sink to stop our Make America Great Again movement.”

Trump complained that New York prosecutors did not pursue a single financial firm after the 2007-2008 financial crisis, nor did they target Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton or Biden’s son Hunter. “They leave the Democrats alone, no matter how bad they are, but they muster every government authority to follow me, my family, my wonderful employees and my company only because of politics… they come after me.”

He went on to suggest that the charges against Weisselberg regarding non-payment of taxes on the company’s car and apartment that eased his commuting were frivolous. He also claimed his ignorance of whether Weisselberg had done anything wrong with taxing his grandchildren’s private education, and asked the audience, “Does anyone know the answer to that?”

These sentiments resonated with his fanatical followers. “I think it’s bullshit,” said Gary Petty, 44, a manager of a pest and fertilizer company. “They’ve been following him since the day he ran for president and they’ve come up with nothing. Washington hates Trump because he’s not a politician. He’s a businessman who doesn’t need their support or money and that scares them.” .

“If he had done something wrong, they would have dug it up by now. If they found something on it, we could deal with it—oh, we were wrong—but I don’t think it’s going to happen. They’ll have to keep trying and I’m sure they will. They’re afraid of Run again; that’s why it’s overheating.”

But if Trump goes to court, Perry – who was wearing a “Hillary Clinton killed my friend” T-shirt – does not expect violent protests. I think the right is the sensible half of the country. Take a look at who has carried out the looting and rioting over the past year: it wasn’t us.” In fact, white nationalists from the far right have been linked to a rise in racist and antisemitic violence.

The rally came days after the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, said they were not guilty of tax fraud charges brought by the Manhattan District Attorney. Photo: Octavio Jones/Reuters

Opinions were shared across age, gender and ethnicity. “I think the charges are trumped up and the Democrats are desperate to put something on him. They decided to try to bring him down but everything they tried failed. Over the course of five years, how many things he was accused of and how many it turned out to be,” said Liz Olipari, 57, who works in a metal shop. Was it manipulated?”

Could Weiselberg, accused of accepting “off-the-books” extras, turn against his boss for nearly half a century and reveal dark secrets? Olibari said, “I don’t think Allen Weisselberg has dark secrets to tell. They are trying to charge him for taking gifts. How trivial is that?”

Dolly Schacht, 67, the employer, also remains loyal. “It’s a group,” she said. I didn’t deal with politics until Trump. I listened to it and it was all I wanted. He exposed corruption in the government and it was scary. I also think we want a businessman running the country instead of a politician who doesn’t know what he’s doing.”

Asked if she was bothered by potential corruption in the Trump Organization, Schacht replied: “It would be less than the politicians. I think the government is forcing companies to be a little bit corrupt.”

And what if Trump ends up handcuffed? “People will support him without question,” she said, referring to the crowd. “We’re there. We’ve seen him go through a lot. I think the Democrats did more harm to themselves than they helped themselves. Trump may be a talker and an opponent but he loves the American people.”

[ad_2]