China one of many gripes for Trump supporters in Capitol siege

Name: Trump supporters storm US Capitol, forcing lockdown amid declaration of Biden victory
Uploaded: 2021-01-07T12:30:12.000Z
Duration: 1 min 13 s
Description: Trump supporters storm US Capitol, forcing lockdown amid declaration of Biden victory

Deep sense of grievance unites array of causes among thousands of protesters who descended on Washington

Many among the crowd express support for Donald Trump’s hardline policies against Beijing

Reading Time:3 minutes

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Mark Magnier

Published: 8:30pm, 7 Jan 2021Updated: 8:30pm, 7 Jan 2021

For Fredy Burgos, it was the danger of socialism ravaging America. For Jesus Garcia, it was jobs. For Tina Marie Mann, it was about protecting the US from godless heathens.

But many of the tens of thousands of Donald Trump supporters who descended on Washington on Wednesday to show support for their president shared one thing in common: a deep sense of grievance, a belief that their concerns were not appreciated before the 45th president and real estate mogul showed up.

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Trump supporters storm US Capitol, forcing lockdown amid declaration of Biden victory

Never mind that the election was won decisively by Joe Biden, or that a raft of election officials certified the results. Ignore that courts had dismissed dozens of Trump lawsuits claiming fraud. The crowds that showed up in front of the White House and Capitol building in force on Wednesday were having none of it.

“I hope and pray that President Trump wins,” said Deborah Alonzo, as if the election had not been held. “He’s done more for this country than anyone.”

The crowd’s immediate focus was on muscling Congress to negate the results and keep Trump in office for another four years, but many expressed strong support for his hardline China policies. Beijing had taken advantage of the US for decades, particularly under Democrat administrations, said Alonzo, and it was not until Trump came along that Beijing was put on warning.

If – not when – Biden ultimately became president, China would have a hand in affecting the results, she added, without explaining how Beijing could effect such manipulation. “They have more to lose if Biden is elected,” she said. “Biden’s policy toward China will be much more lenient and they know Trump will continue to be tough on them.”