‘Trumpicans’ throw presidential birthday party
South Florida’s political divide played out on streets and waterways on Flag Day with rival caravans showing support for President Donald Trump and his challenger Joe Biden.
Trump’s supporters celebrated his birthday with a truck rally, motorcycle ride and boat flotillas. Joe Biden’s fans countered with a “Ridin’ with Biden” caravan of cars.
Trump turned 74 on Sunday.
At Pirate’s Well Restaurant and Bar near West Palm Beach, dozens of trucks flew Trump and American flags.
Annie Marie Delgado, who helped organize that rally and others across the state, said Trump is winning over support from independents and even disgruntled Democrats because of his law-and-order stance and eagerness to restart the economy.
Those will be winning issues in November, she said.
“We don’t even call ourselves Republicans anymore,” said Delgado, Florida president for Trump Team 2020. “We are Trumpicans. It is a movement that is going to ensure the re-election of Donald Trump in the state of
Florida. As Florida goes so the nation goes.”
Supporters of Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee and former vice president, saw it differently. In West Palm Beach, about 50 cars gathered for a pro-Biden procession. Earlier in the day, a caravan supporting the Black Lives Matter movement rolled through town at the same time as the parade of Trump-supporting trucks. Pro-Biden caravans also were held in Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
Chris Wills, 38, a Miami resident who helped organize the caravans, said he is eager for the day when Trump will be retired from office.
“We’re going to give him all the free time he would like to play golf as he tends to do in the middle of crises, including a global pandemic,” Willis said.
Trump supporters expressed their view of the president in floating rallies known as Trumptillas. About 50 boats adorned with Trump flags and gear passed Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s estate and private club in Palm Beach. Anti-Trump demonstrators also drove past Trump’s Palm Beach property, which was guarded by Palm Beach County Sheriff ’s deputies.