What there is to know
- Crowds of onlookers overwhelmed some of the former president’s most vocal supporters Tuesday morning outside the Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump is due to appear hours later for his afternoon arraignment.
- A morning “rally for Trump” in support of the former president was expected to draw numbers including keynote speaker Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Republican lawmaker arrived amid the chaotic crowd of pro and anti-Trump supporters where she delivered brief remarks.
- Shouting through a small portable megaphone, Greene’s message to Trump supporters was essentially silenced by the disorder of the crowds and media gathered outside. She left a few minutes later.
NEW YORK — Crowds of onlookers overwhelmed some of the former president’s most vocal supporters Tuesday morning outside the Manhattan courthouse where Donald Trump is due to appear hours later for his afternoon arraignment.
A morning “rally for Trump” in support of the former president was expected to draw numbers including keynote speaker Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Republican lawmaker arrived amid the chaotic crowd of pro and anti-Trump supporters where she delivered brief remarks.
Shouting through a small portable megaphone, Greene’s message to Trump supporters was essentially silenced by the disorder of the crowds and media gathered outside. She left a few minutes later.
The controversial Republican got a brief endorsement from Rep. George Santos, who appeared amid the chaos in court half an hour before the rally’s official start time. He left around 10 a.m. with no intention of returning. During his brief appearance, the Long Island politician slammed Bragg and voiced his support for Trump.
Some anti-Trump protesters were also present, unfurling a large banner reading “Trump lies all the time.” A brief scuffle broke out between pro and anti-Trump supporters, with the former tearing up a banner outside the courthouse. Our sister network NBC News reports that the police intervened and separated the groups.
Crowd estimates cannot be certain, but the number of spectators outside Trump Tower and the Manhattan courthouse has risen steadily since Monday, when the former president flew from Mar-a -Lago in New York.
Some protested after Trump told the world he expected to be arrested, but those protests were largely silenced. The NYPD said there was no credible threat to the city at this time and ordered all members of the department to report Friday in uniform.
This mandate is a precautionary measure and covers some 36,000 NYPD officers and 19,000 civilian employees. It comes as senior officials tighten security plans ahead of what could be a busy weekend of pro and anti-Trump rallies across the city, particularly outside Trump Tower in midtown Manhattan.
As deadly coverage of the January 6, 2021 insurgency still looms, the NYPD and its law enforcement partners at all levels are preparing for any incident. At a news conference the day before, New York’s police chief warned of continued street closures and increased police presence that could hamper travel in Manhattan.
Some may just want to stay out of town, especially if they intend to cause trouble, Mayor Eric Adams added.
The Democrat and former police officer urged restraint on all protesters on both sides planning to converge on Manhattan this week. Adams specifically called out ardent Trump loyalist U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who tweeted last week that she planned to travel to New York to support him on Tuesday.
“Control yourself. This town is no playground for your misplaced anger,” Adams said Monday. “People like Marjorie Taylor Greene, who is known for spreading misinformation and hate speech, said she was coming to our city. While you’re here, look your best.”
The former president received vocal support this weekend in New York from several Republican allies, including potential presidential candidate Ron DeSantis. The Florida governor took to the stage on Long Island with Rep. Lee Zeldin to slam Bragg for what he called a “weak” prosecution.
“They’re trying to do all this legal gymnastics to try to act like it’s a crime when almost every other time they’re trying to take felonies and downgrade them to misdemeanors,” DeSantis said Saturday.
The Fifth Avenue location has continued to attract supporters, naysayers, and tourists who just want to see the scene.
A spokesperson for Eric Adams said: “The Mayor is in ongoing contact with Commissioner Sewell on all public safety matters affecting the city. The NYPD continues to monitor all activity and there are no credible threats for the city right now. The NYPD is still standing.” to respond to events on the ground and keep New Yorkers safe.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine also said he was preparing for whatever might happen, tweeting last week that “the NYPD and other law enforcement agencies have planned and coordinated intensely for this moment”. , they lost the element of surprise.”
Security is expected to be tightest in Lower Manhattan, where NYPD officers escorted District Attorney Alvin Bragg from his office last week. The type of security required for the former president to enter and exit the same building poses an unprecedented logistical challenge that the NYPD and the justice system say they are prepared for.
The grand jury indictment remained sealed and is expected to remain so until Trump is impeached. Multiple sources say it includes around 30 charges related to document fraud. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.