‘People drove ten hours to see him’ — Donald Trump devotees gather outside his treatment centre

Signs left by supporters of President Donald Trump at the entrance to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda

Credit: Cliff Owen

Jennifer Gilde has brought a camp chair to Walter Reed hospital, where Donald Trump is being treated for coronavirus, so that she can spend all Sunday showing her support for the US president.

Despite living just 40 minutes away, Ms Gilde has been here, perched in her camp chair, since Saturday afternoon to share her well wishes for Mr Trump, along with dozens of other supporters.

“It was cold overnight, but we wanted to be here,” she told The Daily Telegraph, adding that another friend has been sleeping here since Friday, when Mr Trump was first transported to the military hospital just outside of Washington DC.

“I think it’s important to show our support — he’s our president,” Ms Gilde says. “We really want to see him re-elected. This is a huge election for our nation so that’s why I’m here.”

But Ms Gilde is not optimistic that Mr Trump’s recent coronavirus diagnosis will sway voters one way or the other.

“Everyone I talk to really has their mind made up,” she said, “so I’m hearing more of people wishing harm on him on the other side instead of having sympathy — although they should. That’s basic human nature. I wouldn’t want to see Biden [Mr Trump’s Democratic opponent] get sick… but it does seem like people have their mind made up”.

Others felt certain that Mr Trump’s illness would have an impact on his re-election campaign. “It’s going to give more compassion to the president,” said Bill, a Maryland resident and Navy veteran. “People have more sympathy because he’s gone through what they’ve gone through.”

Supporters of US President Donald Trump hold signs and flags on October 4, 2020 outside of Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland

Credit: Alex Edelman

Another supporter, David Stone, held a handmade sign reading “recovery zone”, and said he was hoping the president would draw strength from their display of support as he watched on from his nearby hospital room.

A steady stream of cars have been honking their horns as they pass the dozen or so supporters who have congregated with large music speakers, ‘Trump 2020’ flags and handmade signs declaring their love for the president.

The group began gathering in earnest on Saturday night, when details about the seriousness of Mr Trump’s condition first began to emerge.

One senior Republican Party figure in the Maryland branch told The Daily Telegraph that a message went out urging local supporters to come to the hospital and show their backing for the president.

The figure, who asked not to be named, claimed that among the people who had gathered outside on Saturday night were Trump supporters from the states of Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts, North Carolina and even Louisiana.

"It was amazing. People drove six, eight, ten hours to come see him," said the local party figure, who went down in person on Saturday to attend the gathering.

Supporters of US President Donald Trump hold signs and flags on October 4, 2020 outside of Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland

Credit: AFP

Some among the crowd appeared to blame China for Mr Trump’s current condition — holding signs that read ‘CCP virus’ and ‘The CCP kill people’ — an apparent reference to the Chinese Communist Party. Mr Trump has repeatedly referred to Covid-19 as "the China virus" and attacked the country for allowing the outbreak to spread beyond its borders. 

A group of supporters for Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate, could also be seen demonstrating across the street from the hospital on Saturday night. One held a placard reading: "Tell us the truth", alluding to reports that the White House has obfuscated over Mr Trump’s condition. Another held a sign reading: "Truth over lives. Vote Biden."

The demonstrations were largely peaceful, although some minor altercations were reported between those dressed in Trump campaign gear and those holding ‘Black Lives Matter’ signs.

“We can’t hear you, you might want to take your mask off, come on,” one Trump supporter was heard shouting into a megaphone.

Police were also forced to clear demonstrators away from the area later on Saturday night to investigate a suspicious package discovered outside the medical facility. The package was later cleared and the crowd was allowed to return to the hospital gate.