The streets of Orlando, Florida, are set and ready to host president Donald Trump as he is scheduled to kick off his reelection campaign Tuesday night in the city’s Amway Center. The atmosphere is both ripe with anticipation and weary—depending on who you ask.
Supporters, protesters, and the giant ‘Baby Trump’ balloon
In his usual hyperbolic manner, Trump tweeted an optimistic message about the enthusiasm of his party earlier this Tuesday.
“The Fake News doesn’t report it, but Republican enthusiasm is at an all time high. Look what is going on in Orlando, Florida, right now! People have never seen anything like it (unless you play a guitar). Going to be wild — See you later!”
His rally is expected to pack the 20,000-seat venue and receive thousands more on the surrounding areas, where they will be reportedly treated with live concerts and food stands. Some Trump supporters began waiting in line for the event to begin since around 2:00 am on Monday, camping in the vicinity.
But not everyone shares the president’s purported enthusiasm. Many protesters are also scheduled to appear throughout downtown Orlando, and they seem to be coming in full force. Just down the street from the Amway Center, at Stonewall Bar, the ‘Win With Love’ protest will take place, and other organizers announced that they managed to raise enough money to bring the famous ‘Baby Trump’ balloon, which is expected to be flown high above the skies in view of the rally.
Passionate opposition
Undocumented immigrants (many of whom had been employed by Trump at his golf resorts), Latinx groups opposing the president’s policies, Puerto Ricans who object to Trump’s treatment of them and their families in spite of their citizenship, women who reject the president’s attitude towards women—the list of people looking to protest is long.
Even the local newspaper, the Orlando Sentinel, declared Tuesday it would not endorse Trump for reelection, stating:
“After 2½ years we’ve seen enough. Enough of the chaos, the division, the schoolyard insults, the self-aggrandizement, the corruption, and especially the lies. So many lies — from white lies to whoppers — told out of ignorance, laziness, recklessness, expediency or opportunity.”
Be it supporters or protesters, the streets of Orlando will be full tonight, with several road closures expected in the city’s downtown area. And regardless of whether you support or oppose Trump, another chapter in American history is undeniably about to be written, as the reelection campaign sets things in motion towards one of the most fateful elections in recent memory.
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