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    After Donald Trump’s arrest, dozens of his supporters rally in Laguna Hills
    • April 5, 2023

    For around two hours Tuesday afternoon, about 60 supporters of former President Donald Trump congregated on sidewalks outside a Laguna Hills In-N-Out Burger.

    There was loud music, dancing and, of course, a lot of chanting: “We love Trump!”

    A man stands at the curb at a rally for Donald Trump at the intersection of El Toro Road and Avenida de Carlota in Laguna Hills on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in reaction to 34 felony criminal charges against the former president. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    The demonstrators — many decked out in red, white and blue with American flags draped over their shoulders — were there to protest what they call the “unlawful” indictment of the former president, who pleaded not guilty earlier Tuesday to 34 felony charges.

    “What they’re doing to Trump is dangerous to the country. They’re trying to make misdemeanors into felonies,” said Laguna Woods resident Marilyn Fischer. “Trump loves this country, and I love Jesus, my country, my family and President Trump.”

    Demonstrators came from around Orange County and Southern California, including Pepperdine University student Brandon McDonald who said he learned about the protest on Twitter.

    “All of us are here to show our support for Trump and the unlawful, unconstitutional indictment,” McDonald said. “It’s a political witch hunt.”

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    Frank Trinh, a Vietnamese American man from Hacienda Heights, said he missed work to attend. He said he was a registered Democrat for 20 years but “educated himself from 2016 to 2018 and became a Republican.”

    “I’m from the poor working class, so I didn’t like rich guys,” Trinh said. “After two years of Trump’s presidency, I saw that what he promised, he delivered. I’m a small guy, but I’m trying my best to contribute to preserve freedom for the world.”

    Some people honked in support as they drove by the line of protestors, which started on the corner of El Toro Road and Avenida De La Carlota. One passerby popped the roof of her car to fly a pink “Women for Trump” flag, which was met with loud cheers.

    There was also a small tent at the intersection selling Trump merchandise.

    Nick Taurus, a self-proclaimed American Nationalist uses a megaphone at a rally for Donald Trump at the intersection of El Toro Road and Avenida de Carlota in Laguna Hills on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in reaction to 34 felony criminal charges against the former president. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Supporters of Donald Trump hold a rally at the intersection of El Toro Road and Avenida de Carlota in Laguna Hills on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in reaction to 34 felony criminal charges against the former president. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    A woman named Suzanne joins a rally for Donald Trump at the intersection of El Toro Road and Avenida de Carlota in Laguna Hills on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in reaction to 34 felony criminal charges against the former president. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Supporters of Donald Trump hold a rally at the intersection of El Toro Road and Avenida de Carlota in Laguna Hills on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in reaction to 34 felony criminal charges against the former president. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Supporters of Donald Trump hold a rally at the intersection of El Toro Road and Avenida de Carlota in Laguna Hills on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in reaction to 34 felony criminal charges against the former president. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Women driving by show their support for the Trump supporters at a rally for Donald Trump at the intersection of El Toro Road and Avenida de Carlota in Laguna Hills on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in reaction to 34 felony criminal charges against the former president. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Supporters of Donald Trump hold a rally at the intersection of El Toro Road and Avenida de Carlota in Laguna Hills on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in reaction to 34 felony criminal charges against the former president. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    Supporters of Donald Trump hold a rally at the intersection of El Toro Road and Avenida de Carlota in Laguna Hills on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in reaction to 34 felony criminal charges against the former president. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

    A supporter of Donald Trump, right, attempts to show a passerby alleged evidence against President Biden during a rally at the intersection of El Toro Road and Avenida de Carlota in Laguna Hills on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 in reaction to 34 felony criminal charges against the former president. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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    Trump, in the midst of his third bid for the White House, is the first president ever to be charged with a crime.

    According to the 34-count felony indictment against him, Trump conspired to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments “to identify and suppress negative information that could have undermined his campaign for president,” said Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy.

    After traveling back to his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida Tuesday evening — following his earlier arraignment in New York — Trump gave a speech in which he attacked those involved in the investigations into the criminal case and criticized Democrats and President Joe Biden.

    A Saturday rally in Huntington Beach resulted in at least two people injured and one arrested, a police spokesperson said at the time. Nick Taurus, a Trump supporter and self-proclaimed American Nationalist, later posted on Instagram that he was receiving care at a local hospital and that he had taken “a skateboard to the head for President Trump.”

    Taurus was present at the Laguna Hills event Tuesday but did not wish to speak to reporters.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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    ​ Orange County Register 

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