As the world’s media gathered outside the Manhattan courthouse ahead of opening arguments in Donald Trump’s secret trial, one New Yorker summed up the growing mood among many:
“I don’t care,” the young woman said, ignoring questions about what it was like to witness history.
She had been dragged to the show by a visiting friend from California, for whom the novelty of seeing a former president grilled over an alleged affair with a porn star still fascinates.
While everyone remains captivated by the legal wrangling surrounding the world’s greatest showman, the city that never sleeps is growing tired of its ongoing circus – and wishes it would move to another city.
Monday was the first time a court heard legal arguments in a criminal trial against a current or former U.S. president.
But Trump’s appearances in Manhattan courthouses are increasing.
A handful of protesters gathered Monday morning outside the courthouse in downtown Manhattan, ahead of opening arguments in Donald Trump’s secret trial.
Trump speaks to the media after the first day of closing arguments in his Manhattan Criminal Court trial on charges of falsifying documents related to secret payments.
Abul Azad, who runs a kiosk at the corner of Center Street and White Street on the northeast side of the courthouse, said sales over the past week have dropped by more than half as customers have been stranded.
He already has judgments against him in two civil cases in New York – for fraud and sexual assault – and the crowds who came to see him today were nothing compared to those who gathered for his indicted in April last year.
Last week, the scene in and around 100 Center Street, the main criminal court building, was one of chaos.
Potential jurors were screened and sent through crowds of MAGA supporters and police officers in tactical gear.
On Friday, protester Max Azzarello, 37, died after setting himself on fire in Collect Pond Park, just outside the courthouse.
Now fatigue sets in.
This morning, the police far outnumbered the few fierce demonstrators.
Neighboring businesses lamented declining sales as roadblocks choked off foot traffic to hot dog vendors and newsstands.
Abul Azad, who runs a kiosk at the corner of Center Street and White Street on the northeast side of the courthouse, said last week’s sales fell by more than half as customers were stranded.
They’ve already seen it all.
“I hate to say this, but in New York it’s not that bad,” said John Costigan, 63, a retired police officer who had come from his Battery Park City apartment to watch the action unfold. .
“This city is bigger than Trump. I was working the streets when “Puff Daddy” (Sean Combs) was on trial (in 2001, when the rapper was acquitted of carrying an illegal handgun into a crowded Manhattan hip-hop club).
“It’s like a little bump in the road here.”
Former President Donald Trump returns to Trump Tower from Manhattan Criminal Court on April 22, 2024 in New York.
John Costigan, a retired New York police officer, said the trial was “not as important” to New Yorkers as it was to the rest of the world, because citizens of the Big Apple had already seen it all.
“Pray for Trumpy” is written on a sidewalk outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse
Costigan had struck up a conversation with Rodney, 63, and Nicole Cole, 57, a couple vacationing in Australia, who had decided the commotion at the downtown courthouse was what they wanted to see over all the other Big Apple attractions in this beautiful spring. Morning.
They admitted to being “disappointed”.
Others had also come from far away. There were Flo and Alex Stone, from Bristol, England, hoping to catch a glimpse of Trump himself, as well as a few Finns.
Another New Yorker had reluctantly agreed to take her friend from Copenhagen, Denmark, to see the latest episode of the New York v. Donald J. Trump affair.
But the two men left shortly after 9:30 a.m., realizing there wasn’t much to see other than a dozen media crews, some bored-looking cops and a handful of eccentric protesters.
What did they expect?
Granted, there wasn’t much of the terrifying drama that unfolded here Friday.
No signs remained of the horrific fire – a slight increase in security aside – as the public continued to mingle at the very spot where Azzarello had self-immolated just days before.
Today, the few protesters present were divided into pro- and anti-Trump camps.
But there was a moving moment between two lifelong New Yorkers, from opposite sides of the political divide, who came together in unity.
Pro-Trump protester Vinny L was among the growing number of demonstrators who showed up to court Monday as closing arguments were heard.
Vinny was joined by Richie S, who admitted he didn’t like Trump and wanted to see him held accountable, but the two were able to come together in a show of unity among New Yorkers.
Richie S, 73, and Vinny L, 62 (who declined to give their last names) had both made the short boat ride from Staten Island to the courthouse.
The two men, who did not know each other, conversed amicably although Richie admitted he “hated” Trump, while Vinny thought the trial was a case of “government overreach.”
Last week’s jury selection revealed the deep fractures in American society and how difficult it might prove to find a dozen New Yorkers who have not yet formed a definitive opinion on guilt or innocence of Trump.
But as Staten Islanders engaged in a heated debate over the issue, Richie said he was “overwhelmed with joy” that he was at least able to have a civil discussion with someone on the other side of the divide. barrier.
Does this show that New Yorkers can put aside their prejudices and give a fair trial to the most controversial man in the world?
Richie withholds judgment for now.
“You just have to hope that people do the right thing,” he said.
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