Former President Donald Trump experienced an unexpected and awkward moment during his rally in Hialeah, Florida, as the audience reacted unfavorably to his mention of local Republican congressman Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL). The incident unfolded as Trump, after acknowledging his supporters in the Florida state House and Republican Sen. Rick Scott, referred to Gimenez.
The atmosphere turned tense when Trump mispronounced Gimenez’s last name, prompting boos from the crowd, as reported by The Daily Beast on Wednesday. Perplexed by the negative response, Trump voiced his confusion, asking, “Oh, you don’t like him? What’s going on? Carlos, come on. We gotta get that straightened out.”
The reason behind the audience’s disapproval remained unclear. Despite Gimenez’s endorsement of Trump’s candidacy in April and his past support, the crowd’s reaction suggested a disconnect or dissatisfaction, raising questions about the relationship between Trump and Gimenez.
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Gimenez, who was not present at the rally, had previously served as a surrogate for Trump at the GOP primary debate in Miami, expressing confidence in Trump’s abilities. “We all know President Trump already WON the debate & these candidates are just vying for cabinet positions,” Gimenez had stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
As a member of Congress, Gimenez had joined fellow Republicans in voting against the certification of the 2020 election results and did not support Trump’s impeachment following the January 6 insurrection. These positions indicated his alignment with Trump’s political stance, but the audience’s response implied a divergence in opinions among attendees.
Adding complexity to the situation, it was revealed that in 2016, during his tenure as mayor of Miami-Dade County, Gimenez had supported Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid. This past affiliation with a Democratic candidate might have resonated with some attendees at Trump’s rally, further complicating the audience’s reaction.
The incident involving Gimenez’s mention, coupled with the unclear cause behind the audience’s negative response, created a moment of tension and confusion at the event, leaving Trump visibly puzzled as he tried to understand the unexpected turn of events.
