Miami has erected a ring of steel around its federal courthouse as the city braces for thousands of protesters ahead of the indictment of Donald Trump on Tuesday afternoon.
Both supporters and opponents of the former president are expected to be in the area ahead of his 3pm arrival. City officials said they were prepared for a crowd of 5,000 to 50,000 people downtown, where United States Federal Courthouse Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. is located.
As Trump prepares to face 37 federal charges over his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House, a new poll shows a majority of his fellow Republicans believe the case is politically motivated.
A combination of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies are at the scene, and police trucks in riot gear arrived at the scene Tuesday morning. Barriers and barrier tape were set up to control the crowds. Helicopters flew overhead.
Only a handful of people were at the scene early this morning, but officials expect that number to rise as the time of Trump’s arrival approaches. One of the first to arrive was a group wearing T-shirts that read “Blacks for Trump.” Another man carrying the American flag carried a stick with a pig’s head in it.
Law enforcement officials in riot gear drive in front of the Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. US Courthouse in Miami before Donald Trump’s indictment
A Trump supporter carries a pig’s head on a stick
Many of Trump’s supporters coordinated their movements on Twitter.
Kari Lake, Arizona’s failed gubernatorial candidate and a big supporter of the former president, tweeted that she would be joining the protesters Tuesday.
Reporters lined up to get one of the 300 seats in the courthouse’s overflow room. Only 20 journalists and members of the public will be allowed into the actual courtroom where Trump will be tried.
Meanwhile, a Portal/Ipsos poll released Monday found that 81% of Republicans thought the allegations against Trump were politically motivated.
The poll also found that Trump still leads his rivals in the Republican Party presidential nomination by a wide margin. About 43% of Republicans said Trump was their preferred candidate, compared to 22% who voted for Florida governor Ron DeSantis, Trump’s closest rival.
It’s unclear what will happen if protesters are armed. Florida has loose gun laws. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez called for peaceful protests but did not say what would be done if someone arrived with a firearm.
Trump will be protected by his Secret Service team upon arrival. The former president arrived in Miami Monday afternoon from his home in Bedminister, New Jersey, flying in on his private plane dubbed Trump Force One.
Trump supporters arrived at federal courthouse at 3 p.m. Tuesday morning ahead of the indictment hearing against Trump
A Department of Homeland Security officer on duty in federal court
A group of Trump supporters wearing “Blacks for Trump” arrived at the courthouse
The Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. United States Federal Courthouse, where former President Donald Trump is scheduled to be indicted
A police cordon was set up around the courthouse
It’s a combination of local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies on the ground
Officials expect between 5,000 and 50,000 demonstrators
He spent the night at his Trump Doral Golf Club in Miami, having dinner with his son Eric.
Trump smiled with fans and posed for photos, asking them about their work and thanking them for their support. In video obtained by CNN, he showed no signs of stress ahead of Tuesday’s indictment at the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. US Courthouse, 12 miles from Doral.
A well-known source told Monday night that Trump has remained “jovial” and “optimistic”. “There have been reports that sentiment has shifted.” “That couldn’t be further from the truth,” the source said.
Melania Trump, meanwhile, spent Monday doing a series of maintenance appointments in Manhattan.
In exclusive photos from , the 53-year-old was seen exiting Trump Tower to visit a building housing a John Frieda hair salon. She also went to the dentist and spent two hours in this office.
Tuesday marks Trump’s second appearance before a judge in just three months and marks an unprecedented moment in American politics.
Trump supporter Gregg Donvan stands in front of the courthouse
Former President Donald Trump will stand trial again Tuesday in downtown Miami, this time on the 37 federal charges he faces over his handling of classified documents following his exit from the White House. The times listed below are estimates due to safety precautions
He is the first president to face federal indictment and has laid out how his day will play out.
TRUMP MORNING AND JOURNEY TO MIAMI COURT
Trump will wake up at his resort in Doral to a clear morning as his court appearance is not scheduled until the afternoon.
He is to meet with various lawyers to put together a team that will take him to court.
Two of his attorneys, Jim Trusty and John Rowley, suddenly resigned on Friday, just hours after Trump announced he would be charged.
It’s still unclear why they left.
In the afternoon on Tuesday, he will drive the black SUVs about 25 minutes to the Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. US Courthouse in downtown Miami.
At around 2:30 p.m. he will turn himself in and be dispatched.
A well-known source told that Trump will not be handcuffed or seen a mugshot of the performance, similar to what happened when he was indicted on state charges in New York in April in the Daniels case.
He is expected to be fingerprinted.
Longtime federal courtroom reporter for the Miami Herald, Jay Weaver, told NPR that the fingerprinting could take place in the courthouse’s underground parking garage, away from prying media cameras.
What will happen in the courtroom?
After processing, Trump will be taken to court and will stand alongside his attorneys while the judge reads out the indictment.
The judge in charge of the case is Trump-appointed Judge Aileen M. Cannon. However, it is unclear if she will chair Tuesday’s hearing.
Last summer, she ruled in the ex-president’s favor by allowing a special agent to see documents the FBI collected during the Mar-a-Lago raid in August.
In court Thursday night, Trump told Fox News Digital that he would plead not guilty to the charges.
That could happen Tuesday, or he could come back for an indictment.
His lawyers could also ask the judge to dismiss the charges immediately.
Cameras are also not allowed at the hearing, but a few lucky journalists are allowed into the room to witness the trial.
Late Monday, a judge denied a request from news organizations to bring video equipment, meaning only one animator will be present.
The source noted that the configuration of the courthouse differed from that in Manhattan.
“The layout of the courthouse is different than in New York, so he’ll probably use one of the private entrances.” So that’s going to be a little different. There won’t be much for the media to see,” the source said, adding, “It will be a quick turnaround with a short hearing.”
Trump’s personal adviser Walt Nauta was summoned to appear in court at the same time as the former president.
Nauta traveled with the 2024 hopeful on Trump’s plane, Politico reported. According to the news site, Trump also traveled to Miami with Todd Blanche, a new Trump attorney, and his longtime adviser Boris Epshteyn.
AFTER COURT APPEARANCE, TRUMP GOES TO JERSEY FOR THE PRIMETIME ADDRESS
The hearing is expected to conclude at 3:30 p.m
He then returns to his club in New Jersey, where he will give a speech during prime time.
Trump is expected to head straight to the airport after completing his session in federal court.
After Trump faced state charges in Manhattan in April, he flew to Florida to deliver a tirade to supporters and some family members in Mar-a-Lago.
This time Trump will leave Florida and travel back north to his summer residence, his resort in Bedminster, New Jersey, where he will address top donors and the press.
Donald Trump is seen at his resort in Doral, a Miami suburb, on Monday evening
Trump poses with supporters in Doral on Monday night. His advisor Walt Nauta is seen at far left wearing a red tie: Nauta has been charged with Trump on conspiracy to obstruct justice
Melania Trump spent Monday doing a series of maintenance appointments in Manhattan
The speech is expected to take place during prime time.
The event is intended to serve as a fundraiser for Trump’s re-election. Politico reported that there will be an invitation to a “candlelit dinner,” a “photo op,” and a “VIP reception” with elected officials and special guests.