Name: ’Trump Train' rolls through Seacoast in loud show of support
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’Trump Train' rolls through Seacoast in loud show of support

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&nbsp;PORTSMOUTH – Couples portraying President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were easy to find Sunday at a Toyota dealership.A camouflage Humvee with a gunner on top owned by Concord residents Mark and Rebecca Plummer was part of the crowd of 300-plus vehicles gathered before the start of a "Trump Train" caravan across the Seacoast. Joining them were Rebecca’s niece, Megan Elsten, dressed as the first lady, and her husband Mike Cwikla, in costume as the president, offering smiles and thumbs up for everyone."Political things shouldn’t divide people, but it does," Rebecca Plummer said. "I believe you need to stand up for what you believe in. I believe in our president because we are a military and law enforcement family and he gives both his support. For me, it is not about his personality, it’s about his beliefs."The Trump supporters with flags and signs traveled the streets of several Seacoast cities and towns Sunday for the rolling rally in support of reelecting the Republican president in November. They started in Portsmouth, gathering at the Toyota dealership owned by Jim Boyle, who has previously hosted a Trump campaign stop.Advertised in advance as an event offering "bonus points" for "triggering liberals," the caravan drove through other communities such as Kittery, Dover, Durham, Exeter and Hampton, which event organizers had called "liberal enclaves." Police in each of those communities said the rally caused no problems, though a Dover dispatcher said they took a couple calls from people who complained about it.There was a party atmosphere at the dealership prior to the start of the caravan, with patriotic music playing and people dancing by their cars.Event organizers Alan Forbes and Chris Jankins, who recently organized a pro-Trump rally in Portsmouth’s Market Square, said they put the idea out for a rolling rally and didn’t know so many people would participate."I estimated we’d have about 100 cars," said Forbes. "There are so many more patriots here than I expected. We invited some people and they invited people and they invited people."Jankins said they wanted to create a safe place for people to show their support for the president, for freedom and for law and order."A lot of people have had our Trump signs stolen," said Forbes. "Here we can feel supported by one another."The gathering garnered some catcalls from people driving by who did not support Trump. Portsmouth resident Tom Shouse, who appeared to be the lone supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden in attendance, stood on the sidelines and took some verbal abuse."Trump is a catastrophe," Shouse said. "I just want to stand here and let them know Biden is here."Portsmouth police were on hand to get the train rolling safely. In order to not impede traffic, cars left in groups of about 10. They were all instructed to obey all traffic laws."Do not run red lights, block intersections, drive with your hazards on or do anything else that will get you pulled over. Don’t give the liberals video of you being dumb," read part of the instructions organizers gave to participants.Exeter resident Nicole and Daniel Cunningham said they came out to support the president."He takes care of our military," said Daniel. "This has nothing to do with racism. Our president has brought our economy back twice, during a pandemic. America is back on track. This is a live free or die state of mind here.""I am supporting him because he supports our military," said Nicole. "He supports American citizens, and he takes no crap from anyone."Jake Lyczak, 16, of Barrington is not old enough to vote, but said if he was, he’d vote for Trump."I like his policies and the way he carries himself," Jake said. "I think he gets things done."Jake’s dad, Mike, said he believes Trump is doing things for the working people of the country.Trixie Donley of Portsmouth said what she likes most about Trump is his foreign policy.

&nbsp;PORTSMOUTH – Couples portraying President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were easy to find Sunday at a Toyota dealership.A camouflage Humvee with a gunner on top owned by Concord residents Mark and Rebecca Plummer was part of the crowd of 300-plus vehicles gathered before the start of a "Trump Train" caravan across the Seacoast. Joining them were Rebecca’s niece, Megan Elsten, dressed as the first lady, and her husband Mike Cwikla, in costume as the president, offering smiles and thumbs up for everyone."Political things shouldn’t divide people, but it does," Rebecca Plummer...

’Trump Train' rolls through Seacoast in loud show of support

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