Reaction to search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago: Anger from supporters, caution from critics

PALM BEACH -- Monday's FBI search of the Mar-a-Lago property sparked anger from his local supporters and cautious response from those who have been vocally critical of former President Donald Trump.

On Tuesday, a steady stream of vehicles sporting flags and pro-Trump signage paraded back and forth along Southern Boulevard from Mar-a-Lago to the western shore of the Intracoastal Waterway. A dozen or so people wearing patriotic garb waved their flags, too, that read "Trump 2024," "Let's go Brandon" and "Trump 2020."

One of those standing along Southern lamented that "I'm watching the United States being destroyed."

"If they could break this door, they could break through your door and our door," another participant said.

FBI raids Mar-a-Lago: Former President Trump says FBI agents raided his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach

Trump's Mar-a-Lago search: What we know day after the FBI accessed his Palm Beach home

Editorial: For justice's sake, let ex-President Trump's Mar-a-Lago investigation proceed unhindered

History: President Nixon toured Mar-a-Lago. Then he resigned a month later.

The scene followed another show of support on Monday evening after the news broke.

"You can't trust the FBI," seethed Billy Sacco of West Palm Beach. "They're doing something stupid."

Florida's congressional Democrats, including one who prosecuted Trump's first impeachment case before the U.S. Senate in early 2020, were careful in their responses.

U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, a West Palm Beach Democrat, said federal law enforcement officials should be allowed to do their "job" in unfettered fashion.

"The FBI must be allowed to do its job without political interference or pressure," said Frankel, whose congressional District 21 includes Mar-a-Lago and counts Trump and former first lady Melania Trump as constituents.

But her colleague, U.S. Rep. Val Demings, D-Orlando, remained silent on the matter through Tuesday afternoon. Demings was a House Impeachment manager who argued for a Trump conviction in the U.S. Senate trial over his first impeachment in early 2020, and has been a frequent critic of what she has called Trump's "lawlessness."

Trump was eventually acquitted by the GOP-led U.S. Senate, and a spokesman for Demings, who is running against U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio this year, said she had not issued a public comment on the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago.

Trump and Mar-a-Lago photos: Inside look at his private beach club in Palm Beach, Florida

Why did the FBI search Trump's Mar-a-Lago? 5 potential explanations

Palm Beach County Democrats, often critical of Trump, muted about search

Others were equally muted and reserved in their remarks.

"This is proof that no one, not even a former president, is above the law." said Terrie Rizzo, chair of the Palm Beach County Democratic Party.

Rolando Barrero, president of the Palm Beach County Democratic Hispanic Caucus, said that some think the law enforcement action will tarnish the reputation of the United States while others believe it will uplift it. He said that he thinks people should refrain from discussion since the public does not know what was found yet.

"In all fairness, I think that everybody should refrain from saying too much because we don't know exactly what's going to be found and we don't have any idea yet what the search warrant was exactly for," he said.

Stephany Matat is a politics and business reporter at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at smatat@pbpost.com. Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at the Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FBI raid of Trump's Mar-a-Lago sparks anger and muted responses