Supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump gathered in Florida on Tuesday night, confident in an anticipated win for their candidate. The scene outside the Versailles Cuban restaurant in Miami was one of celebration, as people cheered and awaited Trump’s arrival, hoping for a speech following a series of victories in key states.
At the Palm Beach County Convention Centre, supporters dressed in formal wear and casual attire mingled, many donning Trump’s signature “Make America Great Again” red caps. Among the crowd was Moses Abraham, 22, who expressed certainty about Trump’s victory. “I feel like Trump has won this election. This is over, and I feel like the world’s about to be much greater,” he said.
On Wednesday, Trump moved closer to a potential victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, who now faces an increasingly narrow path to the White House. For Trump’s supporters, the evening was filled with optimism. “This is like 2016,” said Jo Ann Poly Calvo, one of the attendees. “I feel we are on the same path to win. I feel very optimistic about tonight. Donald Trump is the perfect fit for America.”
Trump’s residence in Florida has solidified the state’s role as a base of support, and his legal challenges in New York have only deepened his ties to this Republican stronghold. Mar-a-Lago, his estate and members-only club, is a symbolic center of his campaign in the state.
Rocco Talarico, 68, proudly displayed his “Born to Ride” leather vest with Trump’s name on it. Confident in Trump’s chances, he highlighted key issues he believes Trump could address. “Our country right now has no borders, our crime is bad, our stock market is bad, and our gas and food prices are high. Kamala did nothing for four years,” he said.
For some, like Mike McCormack, 50, the night was also an opportunity to voice skepticism about Harris and the election process itself. “I don’t feel Donald Trump could be influenced from outside as much, and I strongly believe that Harris is actually controlled and manipulated,” he said. He voiced doubts about the integrity of polls, a concern that Trump has frequently echoed.