Donald Trump backers stood at the intersection of Douglas and River avenues holding signs exhorting passersby to honk their car horns and get on the Trump train. The roughly 25 advocates in Holland Township represented one of a reported 35 similar rallies around the state on Tuesday.

Supporters of a Donald Trump presidency gathered in Holland Township on Tuesday evening.

Trump backers stood at the intersection of Douglas and River avenues holding signs exhorting passersby to honk their car horns and get on the Trump train. The roughly 25 advocates in Holland Township represented one of a reported 35 similar rallies around the state on Tuesday.

“There are lots of people in Holland and the Holland area who support Trump, but think they are alone,” local conservative advocate Jim Chiodo said, as a passing car honked its horn. “It’s pretty clear we are not alone.”

Following the presidential debate on Monday night between Republican Trump and his Democrat rival Hillary Clinton, the two dozen supporters at Douglas and River on Tuesday held up their signs and waived enthusiastically to passing cars. Many drivers honked or waived back, although a few returned four-letter words and a rude hand gesture.

The explicit negative feedback from the passing cars was definitely a small minority, however.

“I love it,” Chiodo said, as a dump truck on River let out a deafening blast. “Even if it hurts my ears.”

Ray and Heidi LaHaie of Holland stood behind a large “Trump-Pence” placard. They said they’ve never really been politically involved before.

“As a military veteran, I like a leader who knows where he’s going,” said Ray LaHaie, who noted he has supported Trump throughout the primary election. “And that’s been the appeal from the beginning.”

“(Trump) says what he means,” Heidi LaHaie said. “Whether you like what he is telling you or not, he is telling the truth.”

Asked about Trump’s debate performance on Monday night, Chiodo said he didn’t think either side “hit a home run” or “scored a touchdown.” He blamed the debate moderator, Lester Holt, for not bringing up Trump's marquee policy question, immigration.

Chiodo also questioned Holt’s willingness to spend so much time on Trump’s past of questioning President Barack Obama’s place of birth, while dwelling so little on Clinton’s email scandal.

The LaHaies gave a more directly positive judgement of Trump's performance.

“I think he handled himself really well,” Heidi LaHaie said. “I thought it was really ironic how they kept trying to push his buttons. I was really proud of Donald last night.”

Jackie Geerlings and Cherie Elhart, both of Holland, stood down the sidewalk holding signs that said “Trump-Pence” and “the silent majority stands with Trump.”

Geerlings said she thought Trump could have hit on some more issues in the debate but suspects he was holding back. Geerlings added that she was looking forward to the next debate on Sunday, Oct. 9.

“We desperately need a change and I am going to do everything I can to make America great again,” Geerlings said. “I’ve never participated in anything like this but I am happy to today.”

“Ditto,” Elhart said.

— Follow this reporter on Twitter @CPWhitmer.