Cyclist who famously flipped Trump’s motorcade the bird is back

THE woman who became internet famous last year — and was subsequently sacked — for giving Donald Trump’s motorcade the finger is while cycling back in a surprising new role.

Juli Briskman won the internet when she gave Donald Trump the finger as his motorcade passed her in Virginia. Picture: AFP / Brendan Smialowski

EVEN if you don’t recall the name Juli Briskman, you’ll surely recall the image that made her an internet sensation.

The American woman wound up losing her job last year after a photo of her flipping Donald Trump the bird while on her bicycle quickly went viral.

Ms Briskman was cycling in Sterling, Virginia when the US President’s motorcade whizzed by as he departed the Trump National Golf Course in October, 2017.

The 51-year-old marketing executive didn’t hesitate in taking the opportunity to give him the middle-finger salute — a bold show of resistance that was captured by a White House photographer and subsequently got her sacked.

Almost 12 months on, Ms Briskman has announced she will parlay the defiant gesture into a run for local office. The Democrat and communications specialist plans to run in 2019 for the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors in northern Virginia, she told the Loudoun Times-Mirror.

Juli Briskman continues to Donald Trump as he departs the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia. Picture: Brendan Smialowski / AFP

“Those who know me, know that I am not one to sit idle,” the mother of two wrote on her Crowdfunding campaign page. “Whether it’s standing up for a cause, such as our First Amendment rights to peacefully protest the policies of the Trump administration, or working to ensure our children and teachers are given every opportunity to succeed, I do not back down when I see something is not right.”

Ms Briskman is hoping to unseat Suzanne M. Volpe, a Republican currently representing the Algonkian District.

I am running to serve as Supervisor for the Algonkian District where I have worked, volunteered, organized and raised my kids in public schools. I have launched my campaign on @Crowdpac because... if not now, when? Let's Do this! https://t.co/zeYn4QR1pR

— juli_briskman (@julibriskman) September 12, 2018

The single mother and passionate community volunteer said she hadn’t considered a bid for public office until her five minutes of fame last year. However, after losing her job at government contracting firm Akima LLC when she informed her bosses of the cycling incident, Ms Briskman filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against her employer.

The lawsuit was later dismissed, but she realised she had two options: to keep fighting an uphill battle, or to attempt to change the laws herself.

“We have a right to peacefully protest and criticise and express dissent toward our government,” Ms Briskman The Washington Post.

“I’ve gotten some feedback that folks say you should respect the President.

“Even if you don’t like what they’re doing, you shouldn’t show this sort of disdain. And I simply disagree, and I think the Constitution grants me that privilege.”

Describing her extended middle finger as an exercise of First Amendment rights in a series of interviews last year, Ms Briskman said she’d “probably” do it again.

She even used the famous photo as her profile picture on Twitter and Facebook.

Juli Briskman appeared on America’s Today show with Megyn Kelly after getting fired. Picture: Getty Images