Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Jun 23, 2025

Florida protesters stay faithful to Trump

Florida protesters stay faithful to Trump

When 31-year-old hot dog vendor Dirk Frazel heard the news that Donald Trump had been indicted, he “knew he had to do something”, so he got in his car.
His destination was Trump’s home at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, a five-hour drive from Frazel’s home in St Augustine.

The Mar-a-Lago rally, along with a second event held outside a nearby Trump-branded golf course, totaled no more than several dozen people on Saturday, despite earlier calls for protests by Trump ahead of the indictment.

“I heard he was indicted on Twitter and knew there would be people down here,” Frazel told the BBC, standing on a bridge near Mar-a-Lago where he was handing out “Trump hot dogs” to passing motorists.

Inside the resort a few hundred meters away, Trump has reportedly been meeting with his advisers and legal team to plan his legal defense against criminal charges in connection with a $130,000 (£105,000) pay-out to porn star Stormy Daniels.

He is expected to hand himself over to authorities in New York on Tuesday, April 4, with a hearing due to take place at 14:15 local time (19:15BST).

The specific charges Trump faces are not yet public.

Sources familiar with the case have told US media that the former president is being charged with falsifying business records in the first degree — a felony under US law.

Despite the small showing, many Trump supporters at the rallies expressed confidence that Trump would emerge politically unscathed from his legal battles, and go on to win the 2024 presidential election, even if he is convicted.

“I think he’ll be our president again. We’ll be seeing a lot more people coming out to support him because of this,” said Dina, a Palm Beach resident. “I hope we see this through until his next presidency.”

Another demonstrator, a woman who asked to be identified only as Marcy, said she believed the New York indictment would ultimately help Trump’s presidential bid.

“Nothing will come of this indictment,” she said. “Knowing the way he is, he’s probably going to print t-shirts with his mugshot and make millions of dollars.”

“Any free publicity is good publicity,” she added, gesturing towards the Trump International golf course.

Trump’s campaign has already claimed that it raised over $4m (£3.24m) in donations in the 24 hours following the indictment, a quarter of which it said came from first-time donors.

But while Trump leads opinion polls among the current field of Republican candidates, polls suggest he would not win an election against President Joe Biden, were he to run again.

Many of the supporters wore red “Make America Great Again” hats and waved flags with Trump’s picture and campaign slogans on them, prompting horn honking and approving shouts from passing cars.

Occasionally, motorists hurled expletives and made lewd gestures at the pro-Trump crowd, with one woman repeatedly shouting “lock him up!” from a passing vehicle.

Nearby, a boat anchored in the waters near the resort flew large flags with the words “Trust the plan” and “Trump or death”.

The supporters gave the BBC a variety of reasons for supporting Trump, ranging from support for local businesses to vague unsupported claims that he was combating “communists” and the “deep state”.

Others —echoing the words of prominent Republicans — accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg who is in charge of the investigation against Trump of “weaponizing” the law for political reasons.

“The Democrats are trying to make an example out of him, to show that they’re in control,” said a local resident who identified herself only as Mary, echoing a refrain common among the demonstrators.

“We had a Bill of Rights, and a Constitution, things that were so sacred. We don’t have that anymore.”

Another woman, who asked to remain anonymous, said that some Trump supporters in her social circles saw the indictment as a sign that the Democrats were frightened of Trump’s continued appeal.

“We knew this [the indictment] was coming. They know their days are done if he comes back. They’re desperate. It’s almost comical,” said a woman who asked to remain anonymous.

In her eyes, a Trump victory is all but certain in 2024. “Even if he’s in jail, he can still run, and he can still win. No matter what,” she said. “We love Trump and just hope that God has him in his hands.”
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
Iran Conducts Ballistic Missile Launches Amid Heightened Tensions with Israel
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
Shock Within Iran’s Leadership: Khamenei’s Failed Plan to Launch 1,000 Missiles Against Israel
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
Wreck of $17 Billion San José Galleon Identified Off Colombia After 300 Years
Iran Launches Extensive Missile Attack on Israel Following Israeli Strikes on Nuclear Sites
Israel Issues Ultimatum to Iran Over Potential Retaliation and Nuclear Facilities
Black Box Recovered from Air India Crash Site
Coinbase CEO Warns Bitcoin Could Supplant US Dollar Amid Mounting National Debt
Trump to Iran: Make a Deal — Sign or Die
Operation "Like a Lion": Israel Strikes Iran in Unprecedented Offensive
Israel Launches 'Operation Rising Lion' Targeting Iranian Nuclear and Military Sites
Israeli Forces Intercept Gaza-Bound Aid Vessel Carrying Greta Thunberg
IMF Warns of Severe Global Trade War Impacts on Emerging Markets
Syria to Reconnect to Global Economy After 14 Years of Isolation
Israel Confirms Arming Gaza Clan to Counter Hamas Influence
Global News Roundup: From Ukraine's strategic military strikes and Russia's demands and Tensions Escalate in Ukraine, to serious legal issues faced by Britons in Bali and Trump's media criticism, the latest developments highlight a turbulent landscape
U.S. Reduces Military Presence in Syria
Trump Demands Iran End All Uranium Enrichment in Nuclear Talks
Iran Warns Europe Against Politicizing UN Nuclear Report
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
×