On the 2nd, the day before former President Donald Trump, who was the first incumbent former U.S. president to be charged with a criminal offense, was scheduled to go to New York, the Manhattan Criminal Court and the vicinity of Trump Tower were quieter than expected.
There were no protests by supporters of former President Trump, and there was no ‘anti-Trump’ picket protest.
However, if it were not for the reporters, including the cameras of broadcasting companies camped out in front of the courthouse and Trump Tower, the scenery would be no different from usual.
Before the appearance of former President Trump, scheduled for the 4th, at the Criminal Court building in Lower Manhattan, there was a strange silence like the night before a storm.
However, the cameras of the broadcasting companies and the tent booths of the media companies lined up in front of the park across the street from the government building represented the intense competition of media outlets trying to convey former President Trump’s court appearance and the world’s keen interest in the case.
Passers-by said, “Donald Trump is coming here on Tuesday,” and showed a little interest, but did not stop walking.
Since it was a Sunday, there was not much time for the news, so there seemed to be less than 10 filming reporters on the scene. A Spanish-speaking broadcast reporter was busy preparing a report.
Trump Tower, where former President Trump’s New York home is located, had a slightly different atmosphere.
There were no demonstrators and only two or three police officers, just like the courthouse, but since it was in the middle of Midtown Fifth Avenue, which had a lot of floating population, there were quite a few tourists passing by and stopping to take selfies and other photos.
Broadcast reporters reporting through iron barricades and social media influencers who seemed to be broadcasting live on mobile phones were also witnessed.
During the past week, a few anti-Trump protesters calling for former President Trump’s prison sentence and one or two pro-Trump “alone protesters” against them were captured, but it seemed to show a temporary lull over the weekend.
“There are no protesters right now, but tomorrow may come,” said a police officer stationed opposite Trump Tower. “We are thoroughly prepared.”
Former President Trump arrived in New York on the 3rd, the day before his appearance, and was told that he would spend the night at Trump Tower, but this officer only replied, “I don’t know” about the specific schedule.
In New York, where the Democratic Party is strongly inclined, the possibility of a riot by Trump supporters is not high, but as it is difficult to predict what will happen on the day of the court appearance, which will attract national attention, the police and other security authorities are not loosening the reins.
The New York Police Department (NYPD) mobilized all 35,000 police personnel from the 31st of last month, the day after the Manhattan grand jury’s indictment decision, and was fully prepared.
According to Bloomberg News, New York City authorities are said to be planning to block the road near the courthouse on the 4th, the day of former President Trump’s appearance, and temporarily block the surrounding roads as well.
Police say there is no credible threat information yet, but as former President Trump warned of “death and destruction” through social media, they are not ruling out the possibility of sudden action by some ardent supporters.
Former President Trump, who is going to New York in disgrace, is known to be planning to return to his current residence in Florida immediately after his court appearance after spending one night at Trump Tower to give a speech.
Accordingly, it seems likely that former President Trump will not have a press conference or public remarks during his stay in New York.