A MAGA supporter said he was voting for former Republican President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election because he hugs the American flag.
ABC News featured a segment giving Trump voters a chance to explain why they would cast their vote for the beleaguered GOP frontrunner despite many of his scandals and being the first former President to ever be charged with federal crimes.
The segment, titled "Trump Supporters On Why They're Backing Him For 2024," featured ABC reporter Martha Raddatz speaking to three MAGA fans—a Black man, a White woman, and an elderly White man.
Raddatz said of Trump:
"So, here's this guy coming down the escalator, rich guy, married three times, pretty foul-mouthed... "
She then asked the question that everybody wanted answers to:
"What was it? And what is it about him?"
The older gentleman wearing glasses, answered the question with another question, asking.
"How many presidents, how many politicians have come out on stage and hugged the American flag?"
He then said of Trump's bizarre and widely mocked bit of patriotic performance art:
"That really means something to me."
You can watch the ABC News segment here.
During his response, ABC showed a clip of Trump awkwardly cradling the Old Glory in his arms onstage at the 2019 Conservative Political Action Conference.
He was seen repeating the cringy display at CPAC the following year, even kissing the banner and mouthing the words, "I love you, baby."
Trump hugs and kisses the American flag at CPAC 2020youtu.be
Social media users were dumbfounded by the response.
They were also confused by his gesture meant to prove he held reverence for the country.
@ZaleskiLuke/X
Trump's histrionic display of affection for the country is laughable given the fact that his actions as President have been perceived as very un-American.
Yet, he is leading the primaries as the MAGA crowd continues raising him on a pedestal despite his endless series of misstatements in addition to four indictments–including allegations of hush money payments, stealing classified documents, and his efforts to overturn his landslide 2020 presidential election defeat.
@WhiteHouse/X
