Progressive group giving out mini-‘Trump baby’ balloons ahead of protests

A progressive activist group is giving away miniature versions of the “Trump baby” blimp that has shown up at anti-Trump protests worldwide.

Claude Taylor, the chair of Mad Dog PAC, posted a photo of the “Traitor Balloon,” saying that free ones can be picked up at Hotel Indigo in St. Petersburg, Fla., on Thursday afternoon.

Hello St Petersburg! Come to Hotel Indigo lobby between 2-4pm and get your Free Trump Baby Balloon. Not in or near St Pete? Order at https://t.co/g2orQLd0n7 pic.twitter.com/2scaR1LMux

— Claude Taylor (@TrueFactsStated) September 20, 2018

The Mad Dog PAC shop is also selling the three-foot-two-inch balloons for $20 each.

{mosads}The balloons are a miniature version of the “Trump baby” blimp, which made its first appearance at a London protest against President Trump. The Mad Dog balloons depict Trump as a baby with pro-Russia tattoos and a cellphone tucked into his diaper.

“Trump is a giant baby and he’s a baby owned by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin, which is even worse,” Taylor said. “I’m not trying to be subtle here, we’re sending a very direct message that president trump is an asset of a hostile foreign government.”

Taylor said that he often gives away the balloons while traveling to work on anti-Trump projects and that today’s event is not connected to any planned protests. He added that in addition to the “hundreds” he has given away, Mad Dog PAC has sold about 8,000–10,000 of the balloons through their website.

Still, a number of protests are planned against Trump on Thursday to mark the anniversary of Hurricane Maria. Protesters are expected to demonstrate at Trump Tower in New York, in Washington, D.C., and at Mar-a-Lago, Trump’s private resort in Palm Beach, Fla.

The Trump administration drew massive criticism over its handling of the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico. The criticism has been revived in recent days after Trump disputed studies finding the death count was nearly 3,000 people.

Mad Dog PAC is known primarily for its campaign to place billboards across the U.S. with messages challenging Trump and other GOP lawmakers. Taylor said that the group has a number of projects in the works to call Trump out for his comments on the Puerto Rico death toll from Maria, including a mobile billboard in English and Spanish that will travel throughout Florida beginning next week, and an “Impeachment Now” banner that will fly over different cities each weekend until midterms.