New York’s Collect Pond Park was filled with Trump shirts and Make America Great Again hats on Monday. The park had a large flag with “TRUMP 2024: SAVE AMERICA” and one with Donald Trump’s mugshot waving in the breeze.
A lifted truck drove around the block playing pro-Trump parody songs and displaying a Thin Blue Line flag, a Trump flag, and two American flags.
A few blocks away, a separate group of protesters wore black shirts with phrases like “Trump lies all the time” and held up a banner that read “NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW” to express their discontent with the former president’s legal issues.
The first day of Trump’s New York criminal trial resembled a 2024 elections event happening alongside a historical event in a Manhattan courthouse.
For most of the country, this trial may be the last time they see Trump in court before the general election. The trial’s outcome could influence the election and voters’ perceptions of Trump, although Monday’s crowd seemed to have already made up their minds.
So I spoke to attendees to understand why they were present. All of them were New Yorkers.
Trump fans stand firm in their support
“It’s an illegitimate case,” said Steve Merczynski. “President Trump has done so much for New York City. I’m a New Yorker, and he has our back with so many things.”
Merczynski wore a knit scarf that said “MAGA AGAIN,” and “TRUMP 2024.” He told me it’s made by his company, MAGA Hammocks.
It’s not common to see Trump supporters out and about in New York, where I live, but the ones who showed up Monday said they wanted to voice their support.
“They are scared, because he’s going to win,” Bijaya Acsalia said of Trump haters. “That’s the reason there’s all these lawsuits.”
Trump critics remain steadfast in their opposition
Another woman told me that several protesters with Rise and Resist were part of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, a grassroots organization known for its direct action during the AIDS epidemic. Similar to ACT UP, the Rise and Resist group focuses on nonviolent action.
“Even though this isn’t a major case, this is important because this was when he was running,” said Debra O’Brien. “This was the beginning of his first lie.”
O’Brien held a sign that said, “This isn’t about sex (that’s Melania’s problem). It’s about fraud.”
What does all this mean for the rest of us?
The conflicting scenes unfolded without much attention, aside from occasional counterprotesters trying to provoke either side.
This type of scenario has been prevalent in the country’s political debates for almost a decade – Trump supporters and detractors facing off, voicing their beliefs, and then dispersing.
The crowds outside the courthouse in New York were relatively small on Monday. Only the most dedicated individuals from each side expressed their sentiments about Trump. For everyone else, life in New York carried on as normal.
For much of America, Trump’s legal battle is just another sign of a busy election year. It’s worth considering if the rest of the country is as invested in this trial and its repercussions as the people I spoke to on Monday. Probably not.
Follow USA TODAY elections 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 hush money trial is underway. MAGA doesn’t care. Does anyone?
