Trump arraignment: The scene outside the Miami courthouse | Donald Trump News

Miami, Florida – Encircled by journalists, a man dressed as Uncle Sam standing on a hoverboard, sang an ode to former President Donald Trump and his supporters.

In an otherwise uneventful morning outside the federal courthouse in Miami, Florida where Trump is set to be arraigned on Tuesday, Uncle Sam’s act attracted a frenzy of reporters and photographers.

Local officials had said they are preparing for protests around the court where Trump is to be formally presented with the 37 charges he is facing – all relating to the mishandling of classified documents.

Trump, who is seeking the White House again in 2024, has denied the charges, dismissing them as a push by his foes to derail his campaign.

There have been concerns about political violence and far-right demonstrators in Miami, fears of scenes similar to the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol when Trump’s supporters stormed the building to prevent the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory.

But hours before Trump was set to arrive at the court, only a few – often eccentric, if not peculiar – supporters of the former president showed up. With noon local time approaching, there were many more far more reporters than demonstrators at the scene.

A man draped in an American flag held a pig’s head on a spike and smiled for the camera as blood and other liquids dripped from the animal’s cut-off head. It is “Lord of the Flies”, he said, likely referring to the 1954 novel by William Golding that explored leadership and chaos.

Duane Schwingel, who was dressed up as Uncle Sam with a top hat and American flag-themed coat, pants and bowtie, said he was at the courthouse to convey a message in support of “freedom, democracy, fighting communism” and “equal application of justice”.

Almost all Trump supporters interviewed by Al Jazeera cited perceived scandals by Democrats that they say went unpunished: Hillary Clinton’s emails, Hunter Biden’s business dealings, President Biden’s own issue with retaining classified documents.

While each of these controversies has its own nuances and some were investigated by law enforcement, the prevailing sense amongst Trump’s backers is that he is being unfairly singled out while others were let off the hook.

“I want to remind people that regardless of what party you’re in, we have to all be treated the same. And there is evidence against Hillary and evidence against Biden, but they haven’t been charged,” Chaunce O’Connor, who was riding a bicycle while carrying a giant Trump flag, told Al Jazeera.

Despite Trump’s hostility to the mainstream media, the demonstrators supporting him on Tuesday were mostly friendly and jovial.

A truck featuring photoshopped images of top Democrats – including Biden and Clinton – behind bars circled around the courthouse throughout the morning.

Meanwhile, more than a dozen African American demonstrators wearing shirts that say “Blacks for Trump” chanted the president’s name as helicopters hovered above the building.

The few protesters were scattered in the vicinity of the courthouse, not gathered as a single unit.

Bob Kunst sat behind a sign that read “Lock Biden up”, on a sidewalk a short distance from the heart of action outside the building.

He said he is a registered Democrat but the party has turned “fascist” and is doing everything it can to stop Trump. Kunst added that the charges against Trump distract from real issues.

As he campaigns for the 2024 Republican nomination, the former president will have to deal with the federal charges, as well as a criminal case in New York related to a hush money payment to a porn star ahead of the 2016 elections.

Kunst said the legal issues will help Trump “tremendously”, not just with Republicans.

“There’s a whole bunch of Democrats like myself that are really angry. Why are we going through this?” he said.

A Trump supporter, who chose to identify by the first name Jay, said he came all the way from Texas to back Trump on his court day.

“By being here, I hope he’ll know that we love him and support him,” the protester said, dismissing the charges as part of a years-long campaign to “get” the former president.

Asked about how the charges may affect Trump’s 2024 chances, he said: “Trump will win big and be our next president.”