The woman who went viral for repeatedly nodding at President Donald Trump’s remarks in the background during his town hall on Thursday turns out to be a former congressional candidate who ran on a pro-Trump platform in 2018.
The Miami Herald identified her as Mayra Joli, an immigration lawyer and former beauty queen who ran against Rep. Donna Shalala (D-FL) two years ago as an independent who strongly supported Trump.
Joli was seated behind Trump and could be seen nodding approvingly multiple times and giving Trump a thumbs up at one point as he spoke throughout the town hall.
She later posted a Facebook live video of herself calling out to the President, who was greeting a crowd of supporters after the event, and shouting “We have your back!”
“You are the best,” she told him. “You are the favorite.”
Joli’s approving gestures stood out as one of most memorable moments during the town hall:
I’m channel surfing. The woman to @realDonaldTrump ‘s right keeps nodding her head which I find very distracting. #NBCTrumptownhall
— Katie Couric (@katiecouric) October 16, 2020
The nodding is to the Trump town hall what the fly was to the VP debate.
— Allison Harris (@AllisonFox4News) October 16, 2020
And who is that lady behind Trump who nods at everything?
— Jonathan Capehart (@CapehartJ) October 16, 2020
How did #Trump get that woman nodding for him at all times in the background?
— howardfineman (@howardfineman) October 16, 2020