Topline
President Donald Trump’s supporters appeared to largely stay home Friday following his historic indictment in New York City on Thursday evening, despite the former president calling for protests and warning of “death & destruction” over being charged—but police are nonetheless on heightened alert.
Supporters of former President Donald Trump protest near Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, on … [+]
Key Facts
The New York Police Department ordered all officers to report to work in uniform Friday and prepare for possible mobilization, though a police spokesman told Forbes the department is not aware of any credible threats.
Protests outside Trump Tower were non-existent Friday morning, following small demonstrations organized there last week by the New York Young Republican Club—which were still among the biggest of a handful of protests Trump called for and loyalists like Roger Stone promoted in anticipation of an indictment.
The group said in a statement members planned to “remain at home” following Thursday’s indictment, adding, “Let our silence be a condemnation of the captivity of our nation.”
Most right-wing media personalities appear to have sidestepped directly calling for protests thus far, though Fox News host Tucker Carlson predicted “unrest” on his show Thursday night, and claimed “it almost feels they’re pushing the population to react,” while Stone tweeted, “if you elect to protest publicly – keep it peaceful, civil, orderly and legal.”
D.C. Metropolitan Police spokeswoman Alaina Gertz told Forbes authorities are not aware of any protests there related to Trump’s indictment, but said police “will continue to monitor and will plan accordingly with our federal law enforcement partners,” while Capitol Police said it doesn’t discuss potential threats.
A group of a few dozen Trump supporters did gather outside Mar-A-Lago on Thursday night, and the small demonstration went on without incident.
Contra
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said she plans to travel to New York City to protest Tuesday—the day Trump will reportedly surrender himself to authorities and be arraigned.
Key Background
A 23-member Manhattan grand jury indicted Trump on charges Thursday related to a $130,000 payment former fixer Michael Cohen sent to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016 to keep her from publicly disclosing an affair she claimed to have with Trump years earlier—which he denied. Trump has continually lambasted the case as a politically motivated “witch hunt” and promoted conspiracy theories that District Attorney Alvin Bragg is involved in a larger scheme to destroy his “Make America Great Again” movement. But Trump’s calls for protest and his increasingly dramatic warnings about his prosecution have failed to mobilize a base that hit the streets for him in the past. Many online Trump communities appear petrified about demonstrating in public following the January 6, 2021 storming of the Capitol, which has resulted in more than 400 convictions, with some of the more violent rioters now serving multi-year sentences. Unfounded conspiracy theories that swirled in online Trump circles claiming January 6 was somehow an FBI-orchestrated operation to jail Trump supporters have further served to quash enthusiasm.
Tangent
Bragg received a death threat in the mail last week along with a suspicious white powder that was later deemed non-hazardous. The finding came just days after a bomb threat shut down a courthouse where a hearing in a $250 million lawsuit against Trump was getting underway, though authorities said they do not believe the bomb threat was directly related to the Trump case.
What To Watch For
Trump’s time in custody next week is expected to be very brief and will involve a high level of security—including Secret Service agents at Trump’s side. After Trump turns himself in at the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, he will likely be fingerprinted and have a mugshot taken before entering a plea at his arraignment. He will then be released.
Big Number
34. That’s how many counts of falsifying business records Trump has been charged with, according to CNN. The severity of the charges are not yet known.
Further Reading
Trump Indicted By Manhattan Grand Jury—Arraignment Expected Tuesday On Over 30 Charges, Reports Say (Forbes)
Trump Says He Will Be Arrested Tuesday—Urges Supporters To Protest (Forbes)
Trump Warns Of ‘Death And Destruction’ If He Is Charged In Hush Money Probe (Forbes)
Marjorie Taylor Greene Says She’ll Protest Trump Indictment In New York—As NYPD Steps Up Security (Forbes)
George Soros Denies GOP Conspiracy Suggesting He Backed DA Bragg (Forbes)
Suspicious White Powder And Threat Sent To Manhattan DA As Possible Trump Indictment Looms (Forbes)
Bomb Threat Shuts Down Manhattan Court Before Trump Lawsuit Hearing (Forbes)
Trump Indicted In Manhattan—Here’s What Will Happen Next (Yes, He’ll Probably Get A Mugshot) (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2023/03/31/trump-protests-police-in-ny-and-dc-prepare-for-unrest-but-quiet-so-far/