The Alabama man arrested for allegedly knifing a giant balloon caricature of a baby President Trump has received an outpouring of donations from Trump supporters.
The incident occurred Saturday near the University of Alabama football game against Louisiana State University. Trump attended the sports game, prompting a broad swath of both supporters and demonstrators.
Some of Trump’s critics had brought a large inflatable balloon of Trump as a baby grasping a cell phone. The balloon has become ubiquitous with various events that Trump has attended, including his visit to London. Trump supporter Hoyt Hutchinson, 32, posted on Facebook Live about the balloon and was arrested on a felony criminal mischief charge for allegedly stabbing it in the back and deflating it.
Hutchinson’s bond was set at $2,500, although a GoFundMe page had already far surpassed that number, bringing in more than $38,000 as of Monday morning.
The fundraising page, which appears to have been started by Hutchinson, reads, “[Hoyt] was charged with a felony criminal mischief after deflation of the disrespectful baby trump balloon. Hoyt made sure our beloved president didn’t have to see this disrespectful balloon on the streets of Ttown today.”
Hutchinson later added that “all proceeds not needed for legal fees will be donated to the Trump2020 campaign.”
Prior to the stabbing, Hutchinson said of the balloon: “I’m going down here to make a scene, so y’all watch the news. If you’ve got any balls, come join me.
“This is pathetic. I’m fixing to get rowdy,” he continued. “I’m shaking. I’m so mad right now. I’m fixing to pop this balloon, without a doubt.”
Towering “Baby Trump” protest balloon was knifed and deflated by someone unhappy with its appearance during Pres. Trump’s trip to Alabama, organizers say. https://t.co/0ZGerH5PIC pic.twitter.com/Pr2xwqKRBC
— ABC News (@ABC) November 10, 2019
