Chuck Todd Can't Take It When Trump Gets Special Greeting
President Donald Trump was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd of Hispanic supporters who gathered at a famous Cuban restaurant in Miami after he pled not guilty to 37 felony counts of alleged mishandling of classified documents in federal court on Tuesday.
Trump stopped off at the cafe, Versailles, where he bought food and where supporters prayed over him and sang "Happy Birthday" ahead of his birthday on Wednesday.
Supporters of the former President celebrated, cheered, and prayed for him outside the cafe. Many of the supporters praised him for his fight against corruption and for the freedoms they found in the United States after fleeing from Cuba or other authoritarian regimes.
The president, who was already in an upbeat mood on his way to the courtroom, could not help but show his appreciation to his supporters.
"This is a great moment," the president said as he addressed the crowd. "I'm so thankful for all of you and your support. We have a long road ahead of us, but we are going to win this fight."
The president's display of his unwavering commitment to his supporters was met with mixed reactions from media outlets.
NBC anchor Chuck Todd appeared "appalled" by the sight of Latino supporters in Miami. "My word. I mean we've not seen something like this in the United States before," Todd exclaimed. He compared the reception at Trump's cafe pit stop to "corrupt" political figures in Central and South American countries who are celebrated by supporters while under legal threat.
Todd called the support a "perversion," lamenting that refugees who had fled communist countries were rallying around the former president in his fight against his indictment.
CNN's Jake Tapper also responded to the spectacle, criticizing his network for playing it on-air.
"He's trying to turn this into a spectacle, a campaign ad," Tapper said. "That's enough of that."
The sentiment was echoed by both CNN and MSNBC who refused to air the former president's speech to supporters later in the evening.
Overall, the sight of supporters showing their unwavering commitment to Trump came as a surprise, and could potentially have major implications for the rest of the legal battle that he faces. Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that his supporters have not given up on him and will continue to stand by him as he continues to fight for his rights.