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Photos: Texans await President Donald Trump in Rio Grande Valley

Supporters awaiting Trump in Harlingen planned caravan to Alamo, Texas

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Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

President Donald Trump greets supporters as he arrives on Air Force One at Valley International Airport, Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, in Harlingen, Texas. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

HARLINGEN – A few dozen supporters of President Donald Trump toting flags and other imagery rallied in the cold weather in Harlingen in anticipation of his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The supporters gathered near the Valley International Airport, where Trump landed before he headed to the town of Alamo. There, he made an appearance to celebrate 450 miles of border wall construction — one of his signature promises during his 2016 campaign.

The supporters had planned to stage a caravan of vehicles flying flags that support the president and far-right causes like the QAnon conspiracy theory.

Four people interviewed Tuesday morning all said they believed antifa and Black Lives Matter activists staged the Capitol riot, though federal authorities have uniformly identified far-right activists as responsible. Two people said they still believed Trump would be inaugurated for a second term next week, even after Congress certified Biden’s victory and courts at every level have dismissed Trump’s baseless claims of widespread voter fraud.

“If he is able to see us, we hope that it would encourage him and lift up his spirits,” said Sharon Katie Taylor, a retiree from Iowa. “The people voted him in, and that will be proven.”

The president’s visit came amid a possible second impeachment following the deadly siege of the U.S. Capitol last week, which the president has taken no responsibility for.

“People thought that what I said was totally appropriate,” Trump said Tuesday before departing to Texas. His comments were made during his first appearance in public since the Capitol siege, which came as lawmakers were tallying Electoral College votes affirming President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.

At least five people died, including one Capitol Police officer.

WATCH: Trump says remarks to supporters last week were ‘totally appropriate’

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About the Authors
Rebecca Salinas headshot

Rebecca Salinas is the Digital Executive Producer at KSAT 12 News. A San Antonio native, Rebecca is an award-winning journalist who joined KSAT in 2019.

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