Birmingham-Area Republicans Gather for Trump Reelection Watch Party
A few dozen Birmingham-area Republicans ate ribs and pulled pork sandwiches at Jim ‘N Nick’s Bar-B-Q in Homewood as they watched President Trump launch his 2020 reelection campaign. Trump spoke at a rally in Orlando for more than an hour, touting his accomplishments on issues ranging from immigration to the economy.
Several at the watch party say they plan to support the president regardless of which other Republican candidates challenge him in the primary. Springville’s Terri Lapoint is among them. She says she doesn’t need to wait and consider other contenders.”No, I’m a Trump girl. I really, I’m committed to supporting him.”
Lapoint says Trump wasn’t her first choice in 2016. She supported Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. But over the last few years, she says, Trump won her over. “What I’ve seen since then, I really do like.” She says he’s fulfilled his early campaign promises. She particularly liked it when the president during his speech attacked Democrats as being “socialists” for supporting left-leaning policies on issues ranging from health care to immigration.
Deanna Frankowski of Leeds came dressed in a “Make America Great Again t-shirt. When Trump told the audience his new campaign slogan would be “Keep America Great,” she lamented having to buy a new shirt. Frankowski says she’s been pleased with Trump’s record as president. “I think that he was on point. He went back over everything that he’s done and pled his case to be president again,” she says. Frankowski supported Trump early on in 2016. She says the other candidates then were part of the Washington establishment and hadn’t accomplished much. “That’s why I voted for him, because I was tired of all the mouthing and the talking and the not-getting-anything done,” she says. “I said I was ready to give him a chance and he’s done fantastic.”
Those at the watch party cheered for Trump through much of his speech, including his criticism of Hillary Clinton, his Democratic opponent in 2016, and his attacks on this election’s Democratic challengers. They also booed local media when Trump egged on his supporters in Orlando to do the same. A few Alabama lawmakers were in attendance, including Sen. Dan Roberts and Rep. Matt Fridy. Last night’s gathering was organized by the Alabama GOP, along with the Jefferson and Shelby county Republican parties. The watch party was one of several around the state.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include the name of the restaurant.
Trump Administration say South Africa’s Ambassador to U.S. ‘persona non grata’
Secretary of State Marco Rubio says he's kicking out the Ambassador from South Africa -accusing him of hating America and hating Donald Trump.
‘Bloody Saturday’ at Voice of America and other U.S.-funded networks
Federal officials placed 1,000 employees at Voice of America on indefinite paid leave, while severing contracts with Radio Free Asia and other U.S.-funded networks.
Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 9, including aid workers and journalists, witnesses say
Two back-to-back Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza killed at least nine people on Saturday, according to Gaza civil defense. Witnesses say several of those killed were aid workers and journalists.
Here are 8 photography winners with disabilities who show the world their perspective
Here are the winning entries in this year's Global Ability Photography Challenge.
‘Sounds like censorship to me.’ O cinema co-founder slams proposed eviction over film
No Other Land has no U.S. distributor, so the filmmakers have had to make one-on-one deals with cinemas. Art house theaters such as O Cinema have been screening the film independently.
Look up! The Goodyear Blimp is celebrating a big birthday
We head up into the skies over Los Angeles in honor of the Goodyear Blimp's 100th. Come join us ... there's room for eight.