Trump, family here for weekend amid uproar

PALM BEACH — Capping a day in which he accused the leadership of the FBI and Justice Department of politicizing the Russian collusion probe, President Donald Trump arrived here Friday night with first lady Melania Trump and son Barron for a weekend at Mar-a-Lago.

Air Force One landed at Palm Beach International Airport at 6:55 p.m. for Trump’s 12th presidential visit to Palm Beach. He’s expected to remain through Sunday night.

As the presidential motorcade headed east on Southern Boulevard toward Mar-a-Lago, about 30 Trump supporters gathered in front of a Publix shopping center and another group of about 40 Trump fans waved signs and flags near the bridge that crosses from West Palm Beach into Palm Beach.

Among the signs: “In Trump We Trust,” “Illegal Is Not A Race” and “Investigate The FBI (The 7th Floor!!)”

Trump began the day by tweeting about a Republican House Intelligence Committee memo, made public later in the day, that accuses the FBI of basing its surveillance of 2016 Trump campaign adviser Carter Page on opposition research paid for by Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

“The top Leadership and Investigators of the FBI and the Justice Department have politicized the sacred investigative process in favor of Democrats and against Republicans — something which would have been unthinkable just a short time ago. Rank & File are great people!” Trump tweeted at 6:33 a.m.

Intelligence Committee Democrats claimed the Republican memo misrepresented the importance of the Clinton-financed dossier compiled by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele. Apart from the Steele dossier, which was used to obtain a surveillance warrant in October 2016, the Republican memo says the FBI had begun a counterintelligence investigation three months earlier based on information related to another campaign adviser, George Papadopoulos.

Near the Southern Boulevard bridge in West Palm Beach, Jane Justice held a “Secure Our Border” sign and said the release of the memo had vindicated Trump.

“They all need to go to jail,” Justice said, her voice rising. “Hillary, all of them.”

She said the memo “proves what Trump has been saying. ... They had a phony investigation.”

Karen Cooper, a Trump supporter visiting from Rhode Island, agreed. “Corrupt is the word,” Cooper said.

Behind them, wearing a red Trump 2020 hat, Joe Richert, 84, stood with the rest of the Trump supporters holding an American flag.

Richert, from Royal Palm Beach, said he hadn’t read the memos yet. But he said he is sure their release proves Trump right.

“I think he should keep doing exactly what he’s doing,” said Richert, who said he is a veteran. “He’s doing a very good job.”

Staff writer Hannah Winston and Palm Beach Daily

News reporter Ian Cohen contributed to this story.gbennett@pbpost.com

Twitter: @gbennettpost