Trump Unity Bridge Explained

The Trump Unity Bridge, also known as the Presidential Trump Unity Bridge and Trump Mobile,[1] is a decorated float being driven by a Michigan resident throughout the United States, supporting the 45th President, Donald Trump.[2] [3] The float appeared at Trump's inauguration, the 2017 Women's March, and the Mother of All Rallies.

Description

The bridge is long, over tall, and weighs approximately . To make it road mobile, the bridge was attached to a legally registered motorcycle trailer. It features American flags, signage including six-foot-tall letters spelling "Trump", a carved wooden eagle, and a replica of the Statue of Liberty.[4] [5] [6]

The signs on the bridge include sayings such as "All Lives Matter", "American Culture", "Drain the swamp", "Hire American", and "Secure America's borders".[4] [5]

History

Rob Cortis, a resident of Livonia, Michigan, has owned the bridge since 1985.[7] The bridge was stolen from Cortis' Farmington Hills property in December 2014 and recovered in Belleville.[8]

Cortis began driving the pro-Trump trailer in October 2016.[7] He drove 20,000 miles by January 2017,[9] and more than 40,000 miles by August 2017.[7] The float was vandalized in Alexandria, Virginia, en route to the Mother of All Rallies in Washington, D.C.[10] [11]

In March 2019, Cortis interrupted an interfaith vigil in downtown Cleveland, Ohio commemorating the victims of the Christchurch mosque shootings by driving the float past twice while playing loud music.[12]

On November 6, 2020, the float was impounded by Detroit Police for having an invalid license plate, and Cortis was taken into custody because of an outstanding warrant for a charge of disturbing the peace. Police warned him on Wednesday not to return to Detroit, but he did so anyway and was arrested.[13]

On September 22, 2021, the float was involved in a three-vehicle crash in Flint, Michigan. Cortis was driving an ambulance hauling the Unity Bridge back to his home from an event opposing high school mask mandates when he hit another vehicle and spun into a telephone pole. There were no major injuries and there was no damage to the float.[14]

Trump tour timeline

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Bowling . Suzanna . A One Float Trump Parade in Times Square . 9 November 2020 . Times Square Chronicles . 18 January 2017.
  2. Web site: On the road with Michigan's biggest Trump supporter. MLive.com. September 17, 2017. Advance Publications. September 14, 2017. Hunter. Dyke.
  3. Web site: Robert Cortis Brings the 30-Foot Long Trump "Unity Bridge" to CBS Radio. WWJ-TV. September 17, 2017. Detroit.
  4. News: Trump booster rolls his 'Unity Bridge' through streets of Lincoln. JoAnne. Young. Lincoln Journal Star. Susan. Minichiello. Lee Enterprises. August 18, 2017. September 19, 2017.
  5. News: Trump Unity Bridge float riles some in Iowa City. The Gazette. The Gazette Company. Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 1066-0291. September 17, 2017. August 19, 2017. Erin. Jordan.
  6. Web site: Trump Unity Bridge catches Dream Cruisers' attention. The Detroit News. Digital First Media. 1055-2715.
  7. Web site: Trump Unity Bridge to visit Dream Cruise. The Detroit News. August 18, 2017.
  8. News: Stolen 5,000-Pound Bridge Recovered In Metro Detroit . 9 November 2020 . . 5 December 2014.
  9. Web site: 'Trump Unity Bridge' rolls into DC, causes a scene. Debra. Alfarone. WUSA9.com. 2017-09-17. 2018-01-21. https://web.archive.org/web/20180121204416/http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/trump-unity-bridge-rolls-into-dc-causes-a-scene/387183665. dead.
  10. News: Rahal . Sarah . Trump-supporting vehicle and trailer vandalized . 9 November 2020 . . 18 September 2017.
  11. News: Ikonomova . Violet . Vandals nearly destroy Trump Unity Bridge ahead of pro-Trump rally in Washington . 9 November 2020 . . 16 September 2017.
  12. Web site: 'Trump supporter drives 'build the wall' float past New Zealand mourners at Cleveland City Hall'. John. Deike. Cleveland19.com. 2019-03-16.
  13. News: DeVito . Lee . Owner of 'Trump Unity Bridge,' a roving shrine to Trump, arrested in Detroit for riding dirty . 9 November 2020 . . 6 November 2020.
  14. News: Ritchey . Isaac . Trump Unity Bridge involved in multiple car crash . 22 September 2021 . . 6 November 2020.
  15. Web site: Livonia Man Tours The Region With 30-Foot Long Trump 'Unity Bridge' . CBS Detroit . 2016-11-10 . 2017-09-20.
  16. News: Have you seen the Presidential Trump Unity Bridge driving around Cleveland?. Cleveland 19 Digital Team. December 12, 2016. 2017-10-20. en.
  17. Web site: This dedicated Trump supporter couldn't wait for inauguration day. Blades. Erik. 2017-01-17. New York Post. 2017-10-20.
  18. Web site: Conflicted U.S. capital prepares to host Trump's inauguration. Eisler. Peter. Fares. Melissa. 2017-01-20. Reuters. 2017-10-20. Volz. Dustin.
  19. Web site: Man drives 'Trump Unity Bridge' though Indy. 2017-03-20. RTV6. 2017-10-20.
  20. Web site: Trump protesters clash with supporters at president's Michigan visit. Stanton. Ryan. 2017-03-15. MLive Media Group. 2017-10-20.
  21. Web site: Trump Bridge of Unity rolls through North Platte. Porterville. Mason. 2017-08-16. KNOP-TV. 2017-10-20.
  22. Web site: Pro-Trump float hits the streets in downtown Lincoln. Hammel. Paul. 2017-08-17. World-Herald Bureau. 2017-10-20.
  23. Web site: 'Trump Unity Bridge' trailer passes through Iowa City on coast to coast tour. Fickau. Ethan. August 18, 2017. KCRG-TV9. October 19, 2017.
  24. Web site: Trump float on coast-to-coast tour rolls through Iowa. 18 August 2017. KCCI. Des Moines, Iowa.
  25. Web site: See video: 'Trump Unity Bridge' from metro Detroit vandalized in Virginia. 15 September 2017. WXYZ-TV. Detroit.
  26. Web site: Trump skips town, but still focus of competing rallies in D.C.. Khalil. Ashraf. Associated Press. 2017-09-16. PBS NewsHour. 2017-09-20.
  27. News: Juggalos on the Mall? Just Another Weekend of Washington Protests. Baumgaertner. Emily. 2017-09-16. The New York Times. 2017-10-20. en-US. 0362-4331.
  28. News: Bauer . Caleb . Elements of parade and tailgate outside Trump rally . 9 November 2020 . . 11 May 2018.
  29. News: Feick . Joel . Controversial Trump float dominates Michigan parade . 9 November 2020 . . . 13 July 2019.
  30. Web site: "Bless you": Fox News stars shower blessings upon protesters for violating coronavirus restrictions. 2020-04-16. 2020-04-18.
  31. News: LeBlanc . Barbara . Joined by defiant Texas salon owner, Owosso barber calls for business owners to 'open up' . 9 November 2020 . . 18 May 2020.
  32. Web site: Mich. man's Trump Unity Bridge stolen and crashed while on tour in Tulsa, Okla. . FOX 2 Detroit . August 31, 2020 . A Michigan man's touring creation called the Trump Unity Bridge was stolen and destroyed over the weekend in Tulsa, Okla..
  33. https://www.thealpenanews.com/news/local-news/2020/09/trump-unity-bridge-returns-to-alpena/ Trump Unity Bridge returns to Alpena