Is surfer town Huntington Beach really the Maga stronghold Californians fear?

In a small beach shop in downtown Huntington Beach, California, the face of Donald Trump stares down from a wall covered in T-shirts bearing his likeness. “Impeach This,” one reads, with an image of the former president showing both middle fingers.

“He’s our best seller,” says Abdel Nate, who sits on the tills. “The boss doesn’t care about politics. He’s not red or blue, he just cares about his business making more money.”

Huntington Beach – located around 50 miles south of Los Angeles and known locally as “Surf City” – has all the laid back characteristics of a typical southern California beach town; bright sunshine, palm trees, with cafes and bars lining the front.

However, though the pro-Trump sentiment is palpable, locals dispute previous portrayals of the city as a “Maga stronghold” at the heart of the historically liberal Golden State, and say that the Republican presence is not as aggressive as is being made out.

Whether or not the enclaves of supporters for Mr Trump along the west coast will remain as passive as the US general election November rolls around, perhaps remains to be seen.

Huntington Beach has been described as a ‘Maga stronghold’ in California

‘Just people’

“I feel like it’s to each their own,” Abdel tells The Independent.

The 25-year-old has been living and working in Huntington Beach for two and a half years while he studies at nearby Orange Coast College. “It’s definitely different from when you go to any other city [along the west coast], like Long Beach, LA or anywhere in LA County,” he says. “Over here it’s a lot more Republican.”

Huntington Beach, one of Orange County’s largest cities, has long been associated with conservative beliefs, though in recent years the actions of local authorities