A photo of a lone Donald Trump supporter standing in front of the New York State Capitol during the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Wednesday has gone viral.
Mark Leggiero—from the Montgomery County town of Florida in New York state—drove 45 minutes to the state's capital city of Albany to protest the inauguration after Trump spread false claims of a stolen election, according to Spectrum News reporter Morgan Mckay.
Leggiero showed up wearing a Trump-branded long-sleeve jersey and holding a Trump flag with high hopes of joining thousands of other protesters.
However, he was disappointed to learn the protest was for a party of one.
Spectrum News reporter Morgan Mckay tweeted:
"Mark Leggiero is the one lone Trump supporter out in front of the NYS Capitol. He says he expected a few thousand ppl here and is disappointed. He said he drove 45 minutes for a peaceful protest."
Leggiero told The Daily Gazette photographer, Peter R. Barber:
"I was coming out to hopefully join a bunch of peaceful protesters in supporting the cause, that's almost a lost cause now, unfortunately, I'm sad to say."
Leggiero said he was not into politics before Trump took office.
He maintained Trump had a strong influence on his life.
He stated Trump will "always be my President."
"He gave me spirit he gave me pride, he wanted me to live free."
Newsday's Michael Gormley posted a picture of Leggiero up close and wrote:
"Mark Leggiero,28, is lone Trump supporters at the Capitol in Albany before noon, looking to hold a peaceful demonstration. 'I'm looking for more patriots.'"
Mark Leggiero,28, is lone Trump supporters at the Capitol in Albany before noon, looking to hold a peaceful demonst… https://t.co/2TB3JCCUOj— Michael Gormley (@Michael Gormley) 1611159322.0
You can see Leggiero in an interview here:
Twitter weighed in with their thoughts after looking at the photos of the solo Trump supporter.
@GormleyAlbany @Newsday And friends. But stupid is forever— Paul Bevan (@Paul Bevan) 1611168250.0
@GormleyAlbany Mark Leggiero, 28, who also happens to live in his mother's basement, went outside for the first time this year— 🥀 🗡 Dreams Of Guillotines 🗡 🥀 (@🥀 🗡 Dreams Of Guillotines 🗡 🥀) 1611187505.0
@GormleyAlbany One is the loneliest number. Maybe look in prison? #ByeDon— Bill Sherman (@Bill Sherman) 1611162337.0
However, the photos also elicited some empathy for Leggiero.
@KKAjdari @MichaelRapaport @morganfmckay Oh man.. before I watched that video I scoffed.. but now.. I’m going to go with really sad.— that chick (@that chick) 1611192487.0
@KKAjdari @MichaelRapaport @morganfmckay "It's a lost cause [and] I still have faith." Damn. I actually do feel bad… https://t.co/7WrY2ZOKsp— Azya Maxton (@Azya Maxton) 1611185354.0
@morganfmckay These people have been lied to for years and honestly on some level it’s heartbreaking.— Rob Redies (@Rob Redies) 1611164578.0
@KKAjdari @MichaelRapaport @morganfmckay I completely disagree with him but that was a calm clear position on why h… https://t.co/f3QNjuM1RJ— The Eclipse (@The Eclipse) 1611230003.0
@KKAjdari @MichaelRapaport @morganfmckay Well, that's a start I guess. Hopefully he will find the path back sooner than later.— The Ranja (@The Ranja) 1611189051.0
After being lied to continuously for years—being told what you want to hear—returning to reality is difficult.
@KKAjdari @MichaelRapaport @morganfmckay Well he’s woke to politics....maybe some Dems can reach out.— Mark Hopper (@Mark Hopper) 1611188312.0
@KKAjdari @MichaelRapaport @morganfmckay A couple of local Democrat lads should have went down and took Mark for a few beers 🍻— gary curran (@gary curran) 1611182759.0
@CurranElectrics @KKAjdari @MichaelRapaport @morganfmckay Maybe that would change his mind. He just needs a few fri… https://t.co/eLbpEctiEO— LuluSaidSo💅🏽🔞 (@LuluSaidSo💅🏽🔞) 1611200307.0
Located as part of the Empire State Plaza complex on State Street in Albany, the State Capitol has been fenced off with barriers since the pro-Trump insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6 that left five people dead.
The FBI subsequently warned of possible "armed protests" at all 50 State Capitol buildings leading up to Biden's inauguration. Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies have been prepared for more violence.
Fortunately, January 20 was a day for celebrating as all the bluster about further violence died out after arrests began in earnest after the storming of the United States Capitol by Trump supporters.