Helicopters are circling over the Trump Tower in Manhattan, barricades have been erected on the street, dozens of press representatives and demonstrators are waiting spellbound: New York is preparing for a historic day before the indictment is read out against former US President Donald Trump.

Shortly before a historical indictment was read out against former US President Donald Trump in New York, his supporters protested against the procedure. Dozens of Republican supporters gathered Tuesday near the Manhattan courthouse.

Trump should appear there in a few hours. They assessed the charges as purely politically motivated. The protesters waved Trump flags and held up signs that read, among other things, “Witch Hunt”.

Trump is “completely innocent,” said a supporter. The Republican exposes “all the corruption” in the country. Another woman said “Communist tactics” were being used against Trump. “America will never put up with that.”

Increased security in New York

Due to the historic event, there was a real state of emergency on some streets in downtown New York. The night before the indictment, people were queuing in front of the courthouse in south Manhattan to get into the courtroom.

At the same time, Trump opponents also gathered in front of the court and shouted: “Lock him up.” Both sides were separated by police cordons. New York had significantly tightened security precautions because of feared riots.

Barriers were erected around the building and media representatives from all over the world set up their cameras. Radical Republican MP Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of the most well-known and outspoken conspiracy theorists in the US House, wants to protest outside the door during the court hearing.

The storming of the Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021 has led some New Yorkers to fear that there could also be chaos and rioting in the liberal east coast metropolis. Mayor Eric Adams warned protesters against becoming violent as a precaution.

New York is not a “playground for inappropriate anger”. US President Joe Biden, on the other hand, was demonstratively relaxed. “I have faith in the NYPD,” he said when asked if he was concerned.

Trump had already called for protests a good two weeks ago. This brought back memories of the deadly Capitol attack, in which his supporters stormed the US Congress to prevent President-elect Biden from replacing Trump. Democrat Biden won the 2020 election, but Trump has refused to acknowledge his defeat to this day.