President rewards his faithful supporters outside the hospital with a drive-by
They had stationed themselves outside Walter Reed hospital all weekend in solidarity with Donald Trump, who is being treated for coronavirus at the facility, but they could never have expected what happened next. The US President left his hospital bed to come and offer a personal thank you to the well wishers who had been stationed outside the facility for hours on end, waving Trump 2020 flags and holding signs praying for his recovery.
Mr Trump made the announcement of his “little surprise” visit in a short video posted on Twitter moments before the presidential motorcade drove by the hundreds of supporters gathered outside.
Dressed in an open shirt, suit and wearing a face mask, Mr Trump waved from the back seat window of his car and gave a thumbs up, throwing the crowd into a frenzy. Some supporters ran alongside the motorcade to catch a second glimpse of the president – the secret service agents stationed nearby appeared a little uneasy, but Mr Trump appeared ecstatic at the level of enthusiasm.
The surprise drive-by was an acknowledgement of their support, but also a sign that the president felt strong enough to leave the hospital bed he has occupied since Friday night.
Among those outside was Jennifer Gilde, who had brought a camp chair along with her to Walter Reed hospital to show her support for the president.
Despite living just 40 minutes away, Ms Gilde has been here, perched in her camp chair, since Saturday afternoon. “It was cold overnight, but we wanted to be here,” she told The Daily Telegraph, adding that another friend had been sleeping here since Friday, when Mr Trump was first transported to the military hospital just outside of Washington DC.
“I think it’s important to show our support – he’s our president,” Ms Gilde said. “We really want to see him re-elected. This is a huge election for our nation so that’s why I’m here.” Ms Gilde was not optimistic that Mr Trump’s Covid-19 diagnosis would sway voters one way or the other.
“Everyone I talk to really has their mind made up,” she said, “so I’m hearing more of people wishing harm
‘I’m hearing more of people wishing harm on him on the other side instead of having sympathy’
‘I really from my heart feel sad about it. I really want him to get well soon, put my little energy to boost [him]’
on him on the other side instead of having sympathy – although they should. That’s basic human nature.
“I wouldn’t want to see Biden [Mr Trump’s Democratic opponent] get sick ... but it does seem like people have their mind made up”.
A steady stream of cars have been honking their horns as they pass the dozen or so supporters who have congregated with large music speakers, and handmade signs declaring their love for the president. The group began gathering in earnest on Saturday night, when details about the seriousness of Mr Trump’s condition began to emerge. One Maryland resident, who did not want to be named but said she had emigrated from China 30 years ago, said she had come to the hospital to share her “positive energy” with the president. “I feel very sad about it,” she said. “Because he went to so many rallies and met so many people, he has a lot of risk and he’s old, he’s 74... I really want him to get well soon, put my little energy to boost [him].”
Some among the crowd appeared to blame China for Mr Trump’s current condition – holding signs that read “CCP virus” and “The CCP kill people” – an apparent reference to the Chinese Communist Party.
A group of supporters for Mr Biden could also be seen demonstrating across the street from the military hospital on Saturday night.
One held a placard reading: “Tell us the truth”, alluding to reports that the White House had obfuscated over the president’s condition. Supporters of the president also gathered across the country, with a pro-trump rally held in Orange County, California, accompanied by a caravan of around 250 cars and a boat parade in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday, while Trump supporters gathered outside Trump Tower in New York City yesterday, with a convoy of about 100 cars stopping traffic on 5th Avenue as they honked their horns and chanted “four more years”.