Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Trump arrives for Mar-a-Lago holiday
Dozens line up to shake hands, cheer
WEST PALM BEACH – President Donald Trump arrived Tuesday evening to the cheers of supporters welcoming him back to Mar-a-Lago for the first time since Easter.
The president is expected to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with his family at his estate in Palm Beach.
Trump, his wife Melania and their son Barron touched down about 5:45 p.m. at Palm Beach International Airport.
The commander-in-chief clapped his hands and waved as he left Air Force One.
He shook hands with and spoke to about 100 people lined up at the airport to greet him.
He also handed out his signature “Make America Great Again” hats to those at the front of the crowd.
More than 50 people eagerly awaited Trump’s motorcade at Flagler Drive and Southern Boulevard in
West Palm Beach. They waved “Make America Great Again” flags and signs welcoming Trump back to South Florida.
The motorcade passed to cheers of “Trump, Trump, Trump” and “USA, USA, USA.”
Gene Huber, 47, of Boynton Beach, wore a T-shirt of himself hugging Trump at an Orlando rally in February. He said his enthusiasm hasn’t waned since then.
“Our president brings more and more each day to us,” he said. “We are here to show love.”
People driving by honked horns, and one motorcycle carried a flag imprinted with Trump’s face.
Supporters draped a “Hillary for Prison” banner over a concrete barrier. One man held a flag and yelled, “Lock her up” at passing cars.
While most people watching Trump’s motorcade showed support, one person held a sign reading, “Real news. Fake president.”
Another mocked the spectacle with a sign that just read, “Get off my lawn.”
Mary Tulko, a home health care aide who lives in Lake Worth, said she plans to show her support whenever Trump visits. She said she was part of the “Lucky Seven” who were invited to meet Trump at Mar-a-Lago in March.
Her sign said “LEAVE! No illegals. Secure our borders.”
Earlier Tuesday, hundreds of people marched and chanted in West Palm Beach in protest of the Trump administration’s decision to end temporary immigration status for up to 59,000 Haitians.
While Trump is in town, A1A will be blocked in front of Mar-a-Lago. Trump has a landing pad for his presidential helicopter Marine One. So far, he’s chosen to travel to and from Mar-aLago by motorcade.
Marine One has already been spotted at the airport this week.
The aircraft typically travels with the president — both domestically and abroad.
Boating restrictions will also be in place in the Intracoastal and ocean waters near Mar-a-Lago.
Commercial air traffic will continue as normal, but small planes will be grounded at nearby Lantana Airport, which is only a few miles from Mar-aLago. Banner-towing aircraft, sightseeing planes and flight training are prohibited within a 30-mile radius of Mar-a-Lago when the president visits.
Trump’s Thanksgiving activities could include family time, along with golf, at either his Jupiter or West Palm Beach clubs. And of course, he’ll likely tweet, as he does everywhere he goes.
Trump is expected to remain in South Florida until Sunday night.