Trump talks law and order in Orlando

ORLANDO — President Donald Trump was in Orlando Monday afternoon to talk about law and order with the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

The president was met at the bottom of the stairs of Air Force One by Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who greeted him enthusiastically before the president turned to greet supporters and Central Florida GOP officials waiting behind a barrier.

Also getting off the plane was embattled Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who reportedly was in danger of being fired a few weeks ago but appears to back in the president’s good graces.

The president’s motorcade left Orlando International Airport for the Orange County Convention Center shortly before 1 p.m. local time.

Earlier in the day outside the convention center, a handful of demonstrators and Democratic state senators and representatives gathered to protest the appointment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court over the weekend.

Holding a sign that read “Sexual predators belong in jail, not as President or Supreme Court,” Suzanne Lander of Casselberry said she was protesting on behalf of her daughter who was sexually harassed by a coach in college.

She fears that with Kavanaugh as justice, “women’s rights are going to be chipped away.”

“So many people have such a low opinion on our government, on our police — and now on the Supreme Court,” Lander said.

Nearby, 22-year-old Cheyenne Drews was wearing a long red dress like a Handmaid, the character from Margaret Atwood’s 1985 book “The Handmaid’s Tale” that symbolizes female oppression. Drews said she was discouraged by Kavanaugh’s confirmation, saying it was about “rewarding men with power.”

“I’m making sure we are still visible and vocal in a political climate that wants to silence us,” she said, holding a sign with the word “resist.”

Drews was also there to support Democratic state House candidate Anna Eskamani, who called Kavanaugh, Donald Trump and “his BFF” Gov. Rick Scott dangerous for Floridians.

“We are fighting for women each and every day who have nowhere to turn for health care, women who are assaulted at their jobs, in their personal situations,” she said. “Women who feel silenced with the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh.”

State Sens. Linda Stewart and Victor Torres and state Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith also stressed their support for Medicaid expansion and health care for people with pre-existing conditions — both issues that are key Democratic talking points heading into the midterm elections on Nov. 6.

Smith questioned Republican gubernatorial candidate Ron DeSantis’ priorities when it came to health care in a state where about 800,000 people fall into a gap that renders them unable to obtain Medicaid coverage.

“On Ron DeSantis’ website for governor as we speak, there’s not a single mention of health care,” Smith said.