Trump garners praise following heartwarming encounter with mini-me fan in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA: Former President Donald Trump shared a touching moment with a young supporter dressed as his mini-me, capturing the hearts of many in the scene.

The encounter, which took place at Tony and Nick's Steaks in Philadelphia, happened just hours before Trump's Saturday, June 22 rally at Temple University.

Trump's heartwarming encounter with young supporter

The viral video captured Trump warmly approaching the young boy, dressed in a navy blue suit, red tie, and blonde wig reminiscent of the former president's iconic appearance.

Trump greeted the child with a smile, handed him a signed $20 bill, and posed for photos as they were surrounded by a crowd and security personnel.

"I like that kid! So, if your parents don't want you, I'll take you," Trump joked, drawing laughter from the crowd and bringing a smile to the tearful boy's face.

This heartwarming moment was recorded and posted on X (formerly Twitter) by Trump's Deputy Director of Communications, Margo Martin, accumulating nearly 750,000 views by Sunday.

Trump's selection of venue added an interesting twist to the visit. "Tony and Nick's" is the renamed incarnation of the formerly famous "Tony Luke's," a change brought about by family disagreements and legal issues.

The restaurant's owners, Anthony Lucidonio Sr and his son Nick admitted to tax fraud in 2022, confessing to an $8 million scheme to evade the IRS. This backdrop lent an ironic twist to Trump's appearance, given his own history of tax controversies.

During his visit, Trump reportedly left a $500 tip and wrote "no taxes on tips" on the receipt, aligning with his recent campaign proposal to eliminate taxes on tips for restaurant workers. The policy pitch resonated with the blue-collar neighborhood, despite the city's strong Democratic leanings.

"It was just unbelievable," said Nicky Lucidonio, owner of Tony and Nick's Steaks, in an interview with Fox News. "He was talking to people, answering questions, signing hats. He signed everything. We all took pictures with him. What a great man. We're all here rooting for him. This November, we gotta get him in."

Lucidonio recounted that Trump's visit was a surprise, triggered by a mysterious order placed by a woman on Friday afternoon.

"This lady came with a bunch of people and said, ‘I got a big order for [Saturday].’ I said, 'OK, that's great,' you know… And it was about 200 sandwiches. Wow, 200 cheesesteaks. I said, 'Great, who's it for?' She wanted to help me. She said it's for some special people."

Trump's visit highlighted the challenges faced by small business owners across the country. Lucidonio voiced his frustration over the taxation of tips for restaurant workers.

"You know, people have to wonder. They're working in 100-degree weather in there," Lucidonio said.

"People put tips in our jar, and then to tax those tips that these poor people live day-by-day is a joke. I mean, what else do you want to tax? It's crazy. We do all the hard work, working 15 to 20 hours a day for our families, and they just come and say, 'Well, that's half mine.' It's ridiculous. The middle class is getting killed. We gotta do something about it," Lucidonio added.

Internet praises Donald Trump after his heartwarming exchange with a young fan

Social media was inundated with praise for Trump following his heartwarming interaction with the young fan.

"He’ll be telling his grandchildren about this in 70 years. So wholesome," one user posted on X.

"What an amazing moment for this young man!" another wrote. "He's not even old enough to vote but he's a huge Trump fan," read a comment.

"There will never be another President @realDonaldTrump. We are so blessed to have him," someone else gushed.

"Joe Briben would’ve sniffed the wig off his head," quipped another.

Trump's Philadelphia visit highlights effort to win over disaffected Dem voters

Trump's Philadelphia visit is part of a broader strategy to venture into traditionally Democratic territories. His recent stops in the Bronx and Detroit signal the campaign's belief in their ability to attract disaffected Democratic voters.

The centerpiece of Trump's Philadelphia blitz was his 7 pm rally at Temple University. True to form, the former president used the event to critique President Biden's economic policies, citing a purported 34% approval rating for Biden among Pennsylvanians.

The significance of Pennsylvania in the electoral landscape cannot be overstated. Trump narrowly won the state in 2016 but lost it in 2020. With its 19 electoral votes, Pennsylvania is a crucial battleground that could once again determine the outcome of the election, Newsweek reported.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.