'Rally Behind MAGA': Trump Calls for More Supporters at Courthouse

The scene outside of the Lower Manhattan courthouse where former President Donald Trump's criminal trial is underway has been relatively quiet, except for a man who self-immolated on day four of the trial after the jury of 12 had been empaneled.

Only a handful of supporters have been gathering in the designated protest area at Collect Pond Park. When Trump's motorcade arrived on Monday, there were more Trump dissenters than supporters gathered there, according to The New York Times.

Trump is aware of the high-profile protests happening in New York City, centered around pro-Hamas demonstrations at Columbia University. The presumptive Republican nominee thinks that there is too much police presence around the courthouse by comparison and that making his supporters gather across the street in designated "holding areas" is limiting turnout and infringing on free assembly and speech.

On his way to appear in court on Monday, Trump made several early morning posts on social media to encourage supporters to gather and demonstrate while condemning the conditions placed on protestors.

At 4:05 a.m., he wrote:

Why are Palestinian protesters, and even rioters, allowed to roam the Cities, scream, shout, sit, block traffic, enter buildings, not get permits, and basically do whatever they want including threatening Supreme Court Justices right in front of their homes, and yet people who truly LOVE our Country, and want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, are not allowed to “Peacefully Protest,” and are rudely and systematically shut down and ushered off to far away “holding areas,” essentially denying them their Constitutional Rights. America Loving Protesters should be allowed to protest at the front steps of Courthouses, all over the Country, just like it is allowed for those who are destroying our Country on the Radical Left, a two tiered system of justice. Free Speech and Assembly has been “CHILLED” for USA SUPPORTERS. GO OUT AND PEACEFULLY PROTEST. RALLY BEHIND MAGA. SAVE OUR COUNTRY! “THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF.

At 5:50 am, while en route to the court, Trump posted:

Unlike at Columbia University where the Radical Left Palestinian Protesters sat on the Front Lawn, practically took over the School, and screamed, “Death to the Jews, Death to Israel, Death to America,” and nothing happened to them, Lower Manhattan surrounding the Courthouse, where I am heading now, is completely CLOSED DOWN. SO UNFAIR!!!

By 6:14 a.m., Trump had arrived at the courthouse and described it as an "armed camp," writing:

Look at this story. Hamas Protests. But why aren’t Country Loving Republicans allowed to peacefully protest around the Courthouse, where I am right now. It’s like an armed camp. MAGA2024!

During a break at 10:19 a.m. Trump again posted to Truth Social, saying the police at the courthouse should be sent to Columbia University to protect the Jewish Students being targeted and harassed there. He wrote:

The Palestinian Protests at Columbia University have CLOSED THE COLLEGE DOWN. But the area surrounding the Courthouse, in Downtown Manhattan, is closed up like a drum, with New York City’s Finest (Police) all over the place. Why not send some to Columbia to protect Jewish Students, and others. The University would then not have to Shut Down. Republicans want the right to protest in front of the Courthouse, like everyone else!

Trump may be a media master, as he has consistently dominated the headlines for nearly a decade in America. He unequivocally wants his supporters front and center for the historic trial that is underway. With the chaos and attention focused on Columbia University's protests, the upped security since the self-immolation incident last week, and a campaign trail he cannot attend to, it's clear that the former president is calling on the MAGA movement to voice their opposition to his treatment and the wider implications for the country.

Chaotic Scene As NYPD Descends Upon NYU in Riot Gear, Arrests Dozens of Pro-Hamas Extremists