Florida man dressed as Uncle Sam travels the country from Trump rally to Trump rally
ST. CLOUD — Not only is former President Donald Trump crisscrossing the country, traveling from rally to rally, but so is Uncle Sam. On Saturday, they both stopped in St. Cloud.
Entertainer and voice actor Duane Schwingel has traveled to more than 50 rallies dressed as Uncle Sam. Each time, he is pulled aside by Trump supporters for photos and a laugh.
“Uncle Sam always comes to the country's aid when it’s in need,” Schwingel said.
Schwingel, who resides in Florida, said he isn’t paid for his efforts and engages with the crowd free of charge. He said his efforts are funded in part by small supporter donations, a dollar here and there, adding up over time.
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“I've always been an entertainer all my life,” Schwingel said. “Now at least, I'm focusing on something important and being a good steward of my town (by supporting a candidate I believe in.)”
Schwingel told the St. Cloud Times he decided to go on the trail to support Trump because he’s “an outsider,” not a typical politician. The former president’s business ventures also appeal to the entertainer, saying the president cannot be bought out because he doesn’t need the money.
“He's an outsider. He's a billionaire, so he can't be bought,” Schwingel said. “I like that.”
Although Schwingel said he hasn't had much time to explore St. Cloud, he said he's enjoyed talking to locals he's met while in Central Minnesota.
Corey Schmidt covers local government for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@gannett.com.