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‘We want Trump’: Hundreds of former president’s supporters gather at Miami courthouse

June 13, 2023 Published by

Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories 

MIAMI — Hundreds of mostly Donald Trump backers gathered at the federal courthouse in Miami Tuesday as the former president arrived, leading chants and waving flags on behalf of the embattled former president.

The crowd grew from a few dozen earlier in the day to at least several hundred. They gathered in front of the courthouse, along the streets and cheered when the president arrived via motorcade around 2 p.m.

When Trump’s extensive motorcade arrived, a man wearing a mock prison jumpsuit with a “lock him up” sign walked into the blocked-off street toward the vehicles. The man, who earlier in the day was part of a loud standoff against Trump supporters, was briskly pushed out of the road by police and onto the sidewalk where media and onlookers gathered.

Some Trump opponents verbally sparred with his supporters earlier in the day, with some shouting “No one is above the law” as Trump supporters responded, “Except Trump!” But, with a large police presence at the courthouse, there was no violence or outright unruly behavior.

Several avid Trump fans started verbally attacking Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump’s main rival for the Republican presidential nomination, yelling “Where is Ron?” and “F— DeSantis.”

City officials and police previously said they were able to handle hundreds if not thousands of protestors who could converge onto the federal courthouse ahead of Trump’s 3 p.m. scheduled court time.

The scene outside the courthouse also took on a slight carnival atmosphere, with vendors selling Trump merchandise including cut out-masks of his face and “not guilty” shirts as tourists and locals gawked at the spectacle. One man draped in an American flag also walked around with a pig’s head impaled on a stick.

At around 11:30 a.m., authorities closed off the street in front of the courthouse since people were beginning to spill into the street but reopened it shortly after.

At one point, authorities closed a street outside the courthouse as city and federal officers investigated a flat-screen television with exposed wires that had been placed on the sidewalk, local media reported. The street was opened within an hour after no danger was found.

Trump is facing a 37-count indictment accusing him of mishandling a trove of classified material. He is the first former president to face criminal charges.

Miami police and city officials on Monday sought to reassure the public that they were able to handle up to 50,000 demonstrators, though it’s unclear exactly how many people will show up.

Trump supporters, such as former GOP Arizona gubernatorial hopeful Kari Lake and conservative activist Laura Loomer earlier in the week urged people to come to downtown Miami and speak out on behalf of the former president. At least one pro-Trump group put out information about busing people from central Florida to the Miami courthouse.

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