Abu Zahed of Doraville shouldered a billowing Trump flag, telling everyone he could why he supported the president.
“The anti-Trump protesters are crazy,” he said. “All he wants is to get us jobs and fight terrorism. How can you disagree with that?”
Standing next to them was Linda Shrake, who predicted the anti-Trump protests will disappear as the president starts to live up to his campaign promises.
“I really believe the future is positive and we should hold out hope,” said Shrake, who lives in Roswell. “The best is yet to come. And President Trump will continue to lead.”
The event was headlined by a number of early supporters of the president, who won Georgia’s March primary despite tepid support from many leading GOP officials.
Public Service Commissioner Bubba McDonald, the first statewide official to endorse Trump, was on hand. So was state Sen. Michael Williams, one of the first elected officials in the state to back his candidacy.
Bruce LeVell, who headed Trump’s diversity coalition and is now running for Congress, surveyed the crowd and then asked a question: Who supported Trump from the beginning? Just about every hand shot up.
On the outer rim of the rally, a handful of Trump critics patrolled, some with signs criticizing the president. Chris Moser of Lithonia held one placard declaring Trump a “fascist thug.”
“The people who are against the authoritarian, right-wing and unpatriotic Trump regime need to be represented,” said Moser. “And those people in there” - he pointed to the gathering crowd - “need to be exposed to our view.”
Inside the rally, Trump supporters tried to recapture the energy of his insurgent, outsider-themed campaign.
“The reason Donald Trump won was that people were mad as hell, sick of policies that didn’t work,” said Atlanta executive Michael Altman, adding: “He doesn’t need this job or this office. But we need him.”
Before the rally ended, Loganville City Councilman Rey Martinez had one more plea for the crowd.
“What’s up? Como esta?” he asked. “Let’s celebrate!”
And with that, he led the crowd in a halting rendition of Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration.” As rain threatened, the Trump supporters danced with glee.
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