By Michael Catarevas
WESTPORT — Driving or bike riding past the Greens Farms Road home of Mary and Thomas Purcell almost forces passersby to divert their eyes off the road for a few moments, because there on the expansive front lawn, from one end to the other, are visual tributes to the owners’ hero — one Donald J. Trump.
In sight are a few small “TRUMP 2024” signs, bigger ones proclaiming, “ALL ABOARD THE TRUMP TRAIN!” and “TRUMP: GOD, GUNS & COUNTRY,” and a large square banner with a color image of the bloodied President-elect, fist raised above the words, “FIGHT! FIGHT FIGHT!”
But it’s literally what stands front and center that draws double takes — a 6-foot cardboard cutout of Trump, smiling with thumbs up, proclaiming, “THANK YOU AMERICA!”
It’s all so over the top as to be fairly amusing, except at times to the Purcells, who while proudly supporting the former and incoming president have to put up with those who feel the need to do more than simply gawk. They’re used to it, after also showcasing their similar visual allegiance at election time in 2020.
Mary, soft-spoken, and Tom, loudly defiant, are squarely on the same political page, viewing Trump as America’s savior. Mary’s mindset is largely one of disappointment with many townspeople’s attitudes, while Tom is more of the ‘Bring it on!’ vein.
The signs “are staying there. The more they say no [to Trump] the more I say yes.”
Tom Purcell
Results of the recent election show the vast majority of Westporters — at least those who voted — feel very differently than the Purcells, with the Democrats’ presidential candidate, Kamala Harris, winning more than 71 percent of the ballots cast locally, with 11,769 votes to 4,476 for Trump.
The Purcells recognize the sharp divisions in the community, but are determined to maintain their display as a form of political expression, despite any consequences.
The life-size Trump is the lawn’s main attraction. It came from a Trump store upstate, bought in 2020 for $100.
“Someone told us about it,” Mary said of the business that has been open during the election seasons when Trump has run. “We made a special trip there.”
The cutout and other signs have sometimes been defaced and uprooted, to the extent that the bigger ones are taken inside every night and put back on view the next day.
“With the rest I put grease on them, so if someone grabs them they get a handful of grease,” said Tom. “But they’re staying there. The more they say no [to Trump] the more I say yes.”
The Purcells also have had hateful notes put in their mailbox.
“One said how stupid we are, and how immature,” said Mary, “and that they were going to pop a bottle of champagne in celebration when Trump lost. People have thrown bags of garbage in the front yard a few times. Somebody threw a stuffed duck, I guess to say lame duck. We have a lot of Republicans in town, but because it’s so heavily Democratic they’re afraid to put Trump signs up. Maybe you see a little one here and there.”
Once, Mary noticed that a car had parked in front of the front lawn, with others stuck behind it on the two-lane road.
“I kept seeing cars go around the one parked and couldn’t figure out what they were doing,” she said. “Then I saw a head pop out from the front car. I started walking out there and this guy was pissing on the banner, pumping his arms and screaming that we’re racists.”
“I was in the bathroom,” said Tom. “If I wasn’t I would have choked the guy. People ask me if I’m worried about trouble. I say that I welcome it. Let ’em come.”
Mary relates that she reads local blog sites, but is careful about what she posts.
“There’s a lot of people in this town who have very strong opinions, and their guttural response [to Trump supporters] is that they want to cause harm because they’re so upset over it,” she said. “I’ve commented many times on that, but it just seems like they are not happy with anybody who differs in their ideas.”
“In front of Longshore Park there were signs for everybody, but only Trump signs were pulled out on a daily basis, probably by the same people who put up the ‘Hate Has No Home Here’ signs. That’s a lie, because this town does have a lot of hate, and they are the haters.”
Mary Purcell
The Purcells, with grandchildren living next door who often play in their yard, have had bicyclists curse the kids when riding past.
“And the rest of my family lives close by, most of them,” said Mary. “Their kids are often here, and riders go by yelling, ‘eff you!’ They should be mindful that they’re addressing children, and just roll their eyes if they don’t like what they see.”
Tom, who owns a landscaping business, acknowledges that he has lost money over favoring Trump.
“I lost my firewood business,” he said. “I had people who were buying for 20, 30 years that won’t buy from me anymore. I don’t care. I don’t need their money. What’s important is that this country is going to be straightened out in six months.”
Mary admits to being dismayed by what she perceives is an attitudinal shift in much of Westport’s populace.
“I’m very disappointed in the town,” she said. “It’s changed a lot in the past 10 years. The Democratic Party has gotten more and more aggressive in the things they want done. Trump is the epitome of everything they don’t want to believe in. He pushes against their beliefs.
“But you don’t see Republicans going around town ripping signs off people’s lawns. In front of Longshore Park there were signs for everybody, but only Trump signs were pulled out on a daily basis, probably by the same people who put up the ‘Hate Has No Home Here’ signs. That’s a lie, because this town does have a lot of hate, and they are the haters.”
As for the Purcell lawn signs, they’re not going anywhere. Tom says Mary told him that maybe it was time to take them down, but he’s hardlining it.
“I told her the signs stay up until they stop crying,” he said.
Asked who they are, he replied, “the Democrats.”
Michael Catarevas is a freelance writer.
As an outspoken conservative I cannot agree more with the Purcells. I have been cheered up by their Trump support through bad times (2020) and good (2024). Vicious, hate fueled Democrats will continue to reveal their true colors with the type behavior described here. I am proud of our side for many reasons; one of those being that we do not key your car for having a Harris bumper sticker or vandalize your house for having a Harris sign. The nasty left cannot abide other opinions without acting out like spoiled children. Connecticut was Republican and conservative once and it can be again. Fortunately all of Connecticut is not as misguided as Westport. I encourage conservatives to speak up. Be loud and be proud because you actually have something to be proud about.
Its funny that I haven’t seen any obnoxious or hate filled democratic signs around town – ever. Only obscene and hateful signs are by the MAGAs. I wouldn’t even call yourselves Republicans, as there are plenty of Republicans that don’t support Trump and MAGA. in fact about 200 or so that served with him or otherwise served our country. Everything about Trump and his supporters oozes hate.
Do not confuse the fact that anyone that does not tolerate the MAGAs and their hateful intolerance are themselves intolerant.
I haven’t seen any hateful Republucan signs but as described above , we have seen some hateful Democrat behavior. Continue on with your delusions. Who cares.
Then you missed the pedophile signs all around town.
What constitutes “pedophile” signs? I have not seen any Republican pedophile signs but I’m sure you documented this with photos, yes? Deviant sexual behavior has been and remains almost exclusively promoted by Democrats. Adults are free to do what they want with consenting adults but Democrats feel the need to fill everyone in on the practice of their aberrant proclivities.That might have to stop now since the tide is most definitely turning in favor of keeping your sex life private.
Sharon, The signs posted by some of your cronies called Harris a pedophile. Actually it said “Pedophiles for Harris” which actually meant they were pedophiles and voting for Harris but pretty sure that’s not what they meat. The best neighbor award goes to the man posting them in duplicate right across from our biggest elementary school in town. But do tell us how the Democrats are deviant and don’t keep things private.
Gee Lauren. where to begin.First, promotion of deviant sexual behavior in our schools via explicit literature promoting homosexuality. Next, allaying teenage angst by encouraging them to consider the cause is that they are in the “wrong” bodies which has caused an epidemic of so-called transgenderism and body mutilation. Flags and rainbows all over town promoting more of the above. BTW, what is your complaint about pedophiles for Harris. Clearly, Harris would be more sympathetic to pedophiles ( now called minor attracted persons) to make it more palatable. Would you like to make case that conservative Republucans are the ones responsible for the above? I don’t think you will get far with that
That’s so… weird.
The landscaping in the yard is pretty and delightful, it’s clear a lot of maintenance goes into the space. I do enjoy seeing the variety of greenery and flowers when I pass by.
The signs do detract from the natural beauty; there’s a reason they don’t allow billboards in one of our northern neighbor states.
Whatever your politics, it’s his property, and it’s despicable that people would treat them poorly, rudely, because of those signs. I allow that it’s rather over-the-top, especially if you disdain Trump, as most Westporters do. So much for landscape design. Still, he has the right to express himself just as I did with my unfortunately short-term Bloomberg sign! Now, Purcells, you have to admit it draws attention. Surely, you expected some. Still, Trump’s picture will appear in every US government office for the next four years, like it or not, and I doubt anyone will urinate on that — too high on the wall anyway. Take it down a notch.
I can’t remember any supporters of previous candidates putting up lifesize cardboard cut-outs of any President, Democrat or Republican, after an election. It just seems really weird, given the norm over at least the thirty years that I’ve lived here. What do you think it is about Trump that motivates such strange behavior in such few Westporters?
So classy.
“I, Donald J Trump do solemnly swear that I will faithfully destroy the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, degrade, distort, and modify the Constitution of the United States to satisfy my ego.”
This is a man convicted of 34 felonies not to mention all his other transgressions. I seriously am unable to understand how any person of any moral character could even utter this ugly person’s name much less vote to have him as President of this country. He will destroy everything good about us. I feel so sorry for anyone who has been given permission to let their hate and fear rule their actions.
You mean all the heinous felonies that are drying up like morning mist on a beautiful new day in America? Think of all the felonious acts committed in NYC alone by real criminals, repeatedly freed by Bragg, like the repeat offender who just stabbed 3 people to death on the streets of NY in broad daylight. Feel free to argue the point that NYers are safer and money was well spent on the “case” against Donald Trump instead of prosecuting this guy and legions of others like him.
Sharon, How do you excuse the insurrection? There’s many cases against Trump – taking classified documents, asking government officials to “find votes”, hush money, sexual harassment/assault… but just answer this one… how do you explain Mike Pence saying that Donald Trump asked him as VP to put him himself over the constitution. Those were Pence’s exact words and he’s no Democrat.
And don’t forget the dedicated public servants who were attacked by his cult followers for MERELY doing their jobs as election workers. The violence against innocent people is just one of the many despicable acts committed at his direction. The women in Georgia are a prime example.
No one was accused of insurrection Lauren. That’s because to mount an insurrection you have to be armed and willing to kill and die for the cause (like in 1776, for instance).The only murder was of Ashley Babbitt by that dope, Michael Byrd. Trump, as president had a right to those documents. Biden had no right to classified documents and kept them in a garage where his crackhead son lived and had total access.Mike Pence was a good man, but not a brave one. He had every right, in his position to halt the certification until the disputed issues were addressed to everyone’s satisfaction. He did not have the stones to do it and will therefore go down in history as a feckless coward. All these other stupid allegations were strictly political and honest people know it. That is why he won Lauren. Try a little introspection and maybe you will find yourself on the winning side in the future. Good luck to you.
Sharon- facts please, if you have any? What particular cases are you listing here?
Ok, try to keep up here Susan lest we bore everyone with repetitiveness. We are talking about the baseless politically motivated cases laid out by Lauren in the email previous to your last one.
You probably thought the attack on the Capitol was a bunch of tourists, too.
Why is the GOP trying to bury the investigation of Matt Gaetz by the bi-partisan House Ethics Committee? Given that is the highest office of legal enforcement in the Cabinet, shouldn’t the American people and our Senators see that report?
If they had anything on Gaetz they would have prosecuted. I guess you want to live under a system of punishment for accusations, no evidence necessary. We certainly saw plenty of that these last 4 yrs.
A standing ovation for The Purcells and for those of our neighbors who supported the Harris/Walz CCP ticket, let’s consider a Go Fund Me to buy one way tickets to China. Trump won by a landslide despite you.Live with it. You are in the minority.. And for those who still display stars of David, don’t look now but Netanyahu was just arrested for war crimes. And for those who support continuing sanctuary cities, Laken Riley would be enjoying dinner tonight but for opening the floodgates to criminals.
What an incredibly racist and anti-semtic post. Thank you all for showing us exactly who you are.
I know the MAGA’s don’t enjoy facts but here are some for you.
.Are you kidding me? In your arrogant opinion, undocumented immigrants are LESS likely to be criminals than US CITIZENS? Try selling that to the family of Laken Riley in Georgia, or the mothers of the two 16 yr old girls raped and murdered in Westbury,Long Is. or the five children of the young mother raped and murdered in Maryland or the mother of 12 yr old Jocelyn Nungaray, who met the same fate in Houston,Texas.Tren de aragua has infested 17 states. Are the insane, progressive do-gooders in Connecticut ready to roll out the red carpet?
Prior to the migrant invasiion, I felt relatively safe working in Manhattan,.. Now I shiver as I walk by the iconic Roosevelt Hotel which offers free R&b, $350 weekly clothing and toiletries allowance, free skateboards, uber, and flights ,to the undocumented you prefer to the rest of us. Jose Ibarra called it home until he went to the front desk requesting a plane ticket to Ga. We know what happened next. Jose Ibarra didn’t wear horns and a tail. He looked the same as every other undocumented Venezuelan .