After the conclusion of his arraignment on Tuesday, former President Donald Trump received an unexpected display of support as his loyal followers gathered at a Miami restaurant to sing a heartfelt rendition of “Happy Birthday” to commemorate the occasion.
The impromptu celebration underscores the continued admiration and dedication of Trump’s supporters, even amid legal proceedings. The gesture serves as a testament to the enduring popularity and strong bond between the former president and his base.
President Joe Biden’s administration arrested Trump in connection with an indictment brought forth by Special Counsel Jack Smith, which charges Trump with a total of 37 counts in relation to his alleged mishandling of over 300 classified documents. The former president arrived in Miami for his arraignment Tuesday afternoon, where he pleaded not guilty.
The charges include 31 counts of allegedly violating the Espionage Act or the willful retention of national security information, as well as one count of “conspiracy to obstruct justice,” one count of “withholding a document or record,” one count of “corruptly concealing a document or record,” one count of “concealing a document in a deferral investigation,” one count of “scheme to conceal” and one count of “false statements and representations.”
A crowd of supporters surrounded Trump inside Versailles Restaurant, a Cuban café in Miami.
“Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you,” the crowd sang, video shows. The former president will turn 77 on Wednesday.
“What a great group of people,” Trump said. “What a great group.”
Another crowd of supporters met Trump as he exited the restaurant, according to footage shared by his senior adviser Jason Miller. People can be seen holding signs and yelling “we love you” while Trump waves to the crowd and shakes their hands.
Trump first announced his indictment in a Truth Social post June 8, and accused the officials of ignoring Biden’s classified documents case. Classified documents were discovered at the Penn Biden Center, a think tank where Biden previously held an office, on Nov. 2, ahead of the midterm elections. Officials discovered additional classified documents throughout December and January, including files from the Obama-Biden administration in the president’s private Delaware garage.
