Hundreds of Trump supporters gathered outside a federal courthouse in Miami Tuesday afternoon to show their support for the former president as he was arraigned for mishandling classified information.
The throng chanted "We want Trump!" as Trump, who is the leading opposition candidate in the 2024 presidential election, turned himself in to face charges brought by a prosecutor working for his chief political rival, Joe Biden.
Trump's motorcade arrived around 2 o'clock in the afternoon. He pled "not guilty" to 37 counts and left the courthouse after about two hours.
The gravity of the moment, seen by many as something out of a banana republic, resonated with Trump supporters in Miami's Cuban exile community.
"This is what they do in Latin America," 67-year-old Madelin Munilla said.
The crowd included some familiar faces including the group Blacks for Trump, known for traveling the country to support the former president, and right-wing activist Laura Loomer, a prominent Trump supporter.
Republican primary candidate Vivek Ramaswamy also showed up to condemn the indictment as a political hit job.
Some Trump supporters questioned the whereabouts of Trump's rival Florida governor Ron DeSantis (R), who has yet to directly comment on the indictment.
Republicans arguing with each other. "Where is Ron?!" scream Trump supporters. "Fuck Ron DeSantis!" they continue. Right wing provocateur Chris Nelson argues with them, saying DeSantis is the future.
Nelson tells me Trump deserves fair trial, but "Trump brought this on himself." pic.twitter.com/EjshT9Imjl
— Danny Rivero (@TooMuchMe) June 13, 2023
The Trump supporters were entirely peaceful, despite warnings in the media that the protest would turn violent. As expected, there were also some counter-protesters cheering for Trump's arrest.
The only misbehavior came from a 61-year-old anti-Trump protester in a prison outfit who was arrested for running in front of Trump's motorcade.
After the arraignment, Trump stopped at a Cuban restaurant in Little Havana, where patrons cheered and sang "happy birthday" to the former president, who turned 77 Wednesday.
There was a moving scene as supporters laid their hands on Trump and prayed for him and the country.
WATCH: Supporters pray with Donald Trump at local restaurant after the former President was arraigned in federal court
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 13, 2023
Later, Trump flew to his Bedminster, New Jersey golf course, where he gave a defiant nighttime speech condemning Biden's "political persecution."
