Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene was largely drowned out by anti-Trump protesters when she spoke rally outside Manhattan Criminal Court supporting the former president before his historic criminal arraignment Tuesday.
Law enforcement officers separated Trump supporters and his critics with metal barricades before ex-President Trump’s afternoon arrival as the first American commander-in-chief to face criminal charges.
“Happy arraignment day,” said anti-Trump protester Julie DeLaurier, 66, of Brooklyn, as the crowd swelled. “Lock him up.”
She was among the demonstrators expressing their support for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s hush money case against Trump over his alleged sexual romp with porn star Stormy Daniels.
The Trump backers barely outnumbered the critics, with roughly 300 people combined among the two groups.
Among the pro-Trump contingent were Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (D-Ga.) and fact-challenged Rep. George Santos of Long Island.
“This is election interference,” said Greene, whose arrival spawned a chaotic scene inside Collect Pond Park near the courthouse. “DA Alvin Bragg, he is a tool for the Democrats, he’s trying to hijack the 2024 election. This should never happen in America … They will come after you tomorrow.”
Counter-protesters blew whistles and booed Greene as she was escorted away from a makeshift stage, although Santos received a much ruder greeting after turning up shortly before she spoke.
“You’re a b—h!” shouted one voice in the swelling Lower Manhattan crowd. Nearby, a camouflage-wearing man waving an American flag ran through the demonstrators.
Trump returned Monday to New York for the unwelcome homecoming.
Protester Ricardo Varona, 62, of Manhattan, expressed his full support of the Queens-born Trump and predicted his return to the White House.
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“The indictment ain’t happening,” he said. “They have to find something, because they see these rallies. He’s building, he’s trying to make the world better … Trump will be the next president. I’ll vote for him.”
Colton Keeng, 19, traveled to the courthouse from Orlando, Fla., to support his fellow Floridian.
“It’s not that I have any special empathy for Trump but the opposition party is sending the message that they can selectively prosecute,” said Keeng, offering a nuanced take amid the craziness. “All of them are crooks, or none of them are crooks.”
DeLaurier, a registered Democrat, offered her support for President Biden before adding the Trump prosecution was long overdue.
“He has never been accountable to the law,” she said. “And that’s the least of it. He tried to overthrow our democracy and he’s finally seeing the inside of a courtroom … The man will finally be held accountable.”
Karen Irwin, 47, came downtown from Hell’s Kitchen waving a large “F— Trump” flag.
“They believe they outnumber us and they believe they are the ones who run America,” said Irwin. “This is a celebration. We’re taking a tiny little win here.”