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Trump Supporters Rally in Sarasota, Across The Country

Gloria Horner, who's originally from Colombia, supports Trump's stance on immigration - saying that if people want to come to America, they need to do so legally, like she did. She's gearing up for what she feels is Trump's inevitable 2020 re-election bid
Quincy Walters
/
WUSF News
Gloria Horner, who's originally from Colombia, supports Trump's stance on immigration - saying that if people want to come to America, they need to do so legally, like she did. She's gearing up for what she feels is Trump's inevitable 2020 re-election bid

Gloria Horner stands along Bayfront Drive in Sarasota, wearing a red "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN" cap, a shirt that says "TRUMP 2020" and a handmade sign that reads "MAKING AMERICA GREAT!" 

Since President Donald Trump has been in office, there have been multiple rallies and protests against him. This past Saturday, there were about 50 pro-Trump rallies around the country. Six were in Florida. 

About 200 people were in front of Bayfront Park, overlooking Sarasota Bay. They held signs and banners showing support for Trump. 

Horner, who's originally from Colombia, said she agrees with Trump's stance on immigration -- that if people want to come to America, they need to do so legally.

"If we [immigrants] don't like the way that the Americans live here, we don't have to live here," she said. "We can go back to wherever we came from." 

Mary Potter has a shirt that reads "Proud Member of the Basket of Deplorables" -- a reference to how Hillary Clinton referred to half of Trump supporters

"I've been called racist, anti-semitic, Islamaphobic," she said. "I'm none of those things. Trump is none of those things." 

Potter said Trump supporters aren't given a fair shake and the media pays more attention to the concerns of minorities. 

"Why is there such a thing as the Congressional Black Caucus?" she asked. "If that's not racist, what is it?"

For 89-year-old Dolly King, who holds a small American flag and sits on her walker, Trump's presidency was an answered prayer. 

"Things have been bad. Companies have been going down, down, down," she said. "And I think [Trump]'s a blessing. He's a real blessing. He's going to build up our military." 

King says she's thankful for everything he's doing. 

Frank Tenteramano, who is a grandfather, said he wasn't being paid to be there - alluding to (unfounded) suspicion that protestors for liberal causes were compensated for protesting

"We're out here during the weekend because we work during the week. We're hard-working people," he said. "But we want him to know -- The Donald -- that we got his back." 

Tenteramano said he believes Trump will make America better for his grandkids. 

There was one anti-Trump protestor. Larry Grossman held a sign reading "NYET MY PRESIDENT" - a nod to the Russia controversy swirling around the Trump campaign. 

"Mr. Trump should go where he's really loved," he said. "And that might be Russia, since he has a lot of contacts with Russians." 

Many people at the rally say the Russian controversy is a plot by liberals and the media to tarnish Trump's character.

Too Much Twitter? 

Click to hear what Trump supporters thing of his use of Twitter

People at Saturday's rally were mostly in agreeance that Trump is doing a great job as president. But there was one thing people at the Bayfront rally disagreed about -- Trump's prolific use of Twitter. 

Janet Rice was holding a sign, telling people to honk for Trump. 

"The only thing I would say is 'I want him to maybe not Twitter so much about incidental items," she said. 

Patti Thompson has a different view about Trump's tweets which range from politics to policy to the "Celebrity Apprentice" reality show. 

"I understand  the tweeking [sic]. Personally, I get a kick out of it," she said. "And [Trump supporters] are fine with it, because we're hearing it from him and not some twisted version from the media." 

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Trump Supporters Rally in Sarasota, Across The Country

Quincy Walters is a reporter and backup host for WGCU.
Quincy Walters
Quincy J. Walters is a junior at USF, majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing. His interest in journalism spurred from the desire to convey compelling narratives. He has written for USF’s student paper, The Oracle and is currently the videographer for Creative Pinellas. If he’s not listening to NPR, he’s probably listening to Randy Newman.