I went to the first day of Trump’s criminal trial and realized something: not enough people care

New York City’s Collect Pond Park was flooded with Trump shirts and Make America Great Again hats on Monday. There was a giant flag fluttering in the breeze, emblazoned with the words “TRUMP 2024: SAVE AMERICA” and another with Donald Trump’s photo.

A lifted truck drove around the block blasting pro-Trump parody songs while flying a Thin Blue Line flag, a Trump flag and two American flags.

A few blocks away, another group of protesters, wearing black shirts with phrases such as “Trump lies all the time,” expressed contempt for the former president’s legal woes. There was a banner nearby that read “NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW.”

The first day of Trump’s criminal trial in New York had all the signs of the 2024 election, which was also part of a historic event taking place in a Manhattan courthouse.

For most of the country, this trial may be the last time Trump will appear in court before the general election. The outcome of this trial could impact the election and how voters view Trump, even though Monday’s crowd had long since made up its mind.

So I decided to talk to the people present about why they were there. They were all from New York.

Trump fans won’t change their minds

“This is an illegitimate affair,” Steve Merczynski said. “President Trump has done so much for New York City. I’m a New Yorker and he supports us with so many things.

Merczynski wore a knit scarf that read “MAGA AGAIN” and “TRUMP 2024.” He told me it was made by his company, MAGA Hammocks.

Trump is a hero: Thank you, Donald Trump, for fighting for my right to be involved in a hush money scandal.

It’s not common to see Trump supporters traveling to New York, where I live, but those who came Monday said they wanted to show their support.

“They’re scared, because he’s going to win,” Bijaya Acsalia said of Trump’s enemies. “That’s why there are all these lawsuits.”

Those who hate Trump will never see him any differently

A block away, an anti-Trump group called Rise and Resist held a news conference.

“It’s symbolic of what Trump does all the time,” said Jackie Rudin, one of the anti-Trump protesters. “He uses the laws for his own good. What we find is that our justice system – everything that guides and creates our statutes – is not sufficient to deal with someone like Donald Trump.”

Another woman told me that several of the Rise and Resist protesters were involved with the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, a grassroots organization known for direct action during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Similar to ACT UP, the Rise and Resist group focuses on nonviolent action.

“Even though it’s not a major case, it’s important because that was when he was running,” Debra O’Brien said. “That was the beginning of his first lie.”

O’Brien held a sign that read: “It’s Not About Sex (It’s Melania’s Problem).” This is fraud.

Trump’s trial is approaching. What will it take to convince Republicans that he is unfit for office?

How much does any of this matter to the rest of us?

The dueling scenes took place without much fanfare, aside from the occasional counter-protester trying to agitate one side or the other.

It’s the kind of scene that has flooded the country’s political discourse for a decade — Trump supporters and enemies sit next to each other, shout about what they believe, then go home or log out social networks.

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The crowd outside the courthouse Monday was relatively small. Only the most dedicated of both sides were in New York to express their feelings about Trump. For everyone else, life in New York continued as normal.

For much of America, Trump’s legal battle is just another harbinger of a turbulent election year. So I wonder if the rest of the country is paying attention to this trial, and what comes next, in the same way that the people I met Monday are paying attention. Probably not.

Follow USA TODAY election columnist Sara Pequeño on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno and Facebook facebook.com/PequenoWrites

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump’s secret trial is underway. MAGA doesn’t care. Does anybody?