Almost nobody is showing up for Donald Trump amid his ongoing criminal trial in New York City on charges of falsifying business records in connection with hush money from before the 2016 elections, though the ex-president has clamored for that possibility (meaning demonstrations on his behalf).
“My official count of pro Trump protesters at the trial yesterday during lunch hour was 1,” said MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell on X, formerly Twitter, this weekend, referring to proceedings on Friday. Reports from earlier stages of the sprawling trial were similar.
Eric Trump — a son of the ex-president-turned-criminal defendant — did eventually show up for the proceedings themselves, which his father is compelled to attend because of their specifically criminal nature.
It’s Donald’s first criminal trial among what current circumstances suggest could become four, although factors weighing on how all that will play out include whatever the U.S. Supreme Court decides amid the older Trump’s claims of extensive legal immunity and the eventual outcome of this year’s presidential election, in which Trump is expected to be on the ballot. A Trump win could, in theory, derail some of the proceedings.
But for now, Trump is facing this case, which relates specifically to funds provided before the 2016 presidential election to Stormy Daniels, who allegedly had an affair with Trump. Prosecutors are pushing the theory that the money emerged against a backdrop of intentions to target the 2016 presidential race in a manner favorable to Donald, keeping unfavorable stories at bay while his campaign dealt with developments like the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape. Testimony from longtime Trump ally Hope Hicks appeared to bolster this idea.
