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Flipping Off Trump Tower For Instagram Now Trending In Chicago

 A collection of people who recently flipped off Trump Tower on Instagram. It's a common sight Downtown, neighbors say. 
Flipping Birds At Trump Tower
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DOWNTOWN — Anyone wondering what many Chicagoans — and tourists — think of Donald Trump can just search his namesake tower on Instagram and read between the lines. 

The glassy, 92-story skyscraper on the Chicago River has attracted lots of birds this election season: the kind that emerges from an angry person's fist. A simple search of Trump's namesake tower at 401 N. Wabash Ave. reveals at least a handful of middle finger portraits every day, a social media trend corroborated by neighbors. 

Reporter David Matthews can explain what was digitized out of the photos. 

"At least four people a day" flip off the Trump International Hotel & Tower, says a valet at the nearby Wyndham Grand hotel, 71 E. Wacker Drive. 

"Some people 'Heil Hitler' too," says a driver for Big Bus Chicago, which parks daily by the tower. 

"Some people revere [Trump], some people revile him, it's 50-50," another driver said. 


This photo was posted over the weekend. [Instagram/Taraj725]

The finger-pointing would hardly be the first time Chicagoans have shown disdain for Trump, the controversial developer who's now a front-runner for president. Trump notably canceled his rally here last month after thousands of protesters swarmed the UIC Pavilion, and Trump's big sign affixed to his tower has been criticized for years. Trump has been mocked in Chicago comedy and rap videos, and thousands of locals signed up via Facebook to push Trump Tower into the river.

Trump won last month's Illinois primary, but largely surrendered Downtown and most of the city's lakefront to Republican opponent Gov. John Kasich (R-Ohio)

A spokeswoman for the New York-based Trump Organization, which owns the hotel inside Trump Tower, declined to comment on the profane pictures. 

RELATED: A Brief History of Chicago Throwing Shade At Donald Trump

Though lots of people are throwing fingers at Trump Tower, some neighbors feel the move is misguided.

"People are crazy. It's not Trump, it's his building," said a doorman at the nearby Club Quarters Hotel, 75 E. Wacker Drive. "It's a building."

And though many people don't like Trump, many others like the building itself: a curvy skyscraper that's among the tallest in the world. Its three cornices set back to match the heights of three neighboring buildings, and its shiny steel reflects the colors of the sky. 

"If you spend [nearly] $1 billion you should be able to put your name on there," one Big Bus driver said. "What used to be there? The Sun-Times Building? That looked like a barge." 

But still, those pictures get lots of likes. Here's a recent sampling: 


[Instagram/AloHemingway]


[Instagram/olivia_bridge]


[Instagram/lrschaaf]


[Instagram/jkanezz]


[Facebook/Damond Dawson Jr.]

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