Photo: Alamy
President Trump posited his thoughts on Monday about the dire state of American freedom, urging citizens to peacefully use their voices to advocate for saving their country.
In a scathing statement posted to Truth Social amidst the swirl of an early-morning court appearance in Manhattan, he pointed out the double standard in treatment that MAGA supporters and protestors seem to receive when compared to radical-left protestors and, in some cases, “rioters.”
He wrote:
“Why are Palestinian protesters, and even rioters, allowed to roam the Cities, scream, shout, sit, block traffic, enter buildings, not get permits, and basically do whatever they want including threatening Supreme Court Justices right in front of their homes, and yet people who truly LOVE our Country, and want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, are not allowed to ‘Peacefully Protest,’ and are rudely and systematically shut down and ushered off to far away ‘holding areas,’ essentially denying them their Constitutional Rights.”
He called the justice system and free speech in America “CHILLED,” arguing that “America Loving Protestors should be allowed to protest at the front steps of Courthouses. All over the Country” just like anyone else.
The president’s comments seemed to be spurred by the perimeter that has been drawn around the courthouse where his trial is taking place in New York. He called the closed area “SO UNFAIR” in light of what has happened at Columbia University, as pro-Palestinian protestors have reportedly engaged in anti-Semitic behavior amidst an ongoing demonstration and encampment.
In fact, NBC News reported that the situation had gotten so bad that classes on Monday were held virtually amid the violent rhetoric and reported actions on campus.
Trump argued that “nothing happened to them” and yet peaceful protestors were not allowed to get close to the courthouse in Lower Manhattan.
He ended his Truth Social statement in all caps, writing, “GO OUT AND PEACEFULLY PROTEST. RALLY BEHIND MAGA. SAVE OUR COUNTRY! ‘THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF.’”
The president was quoting the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who uttered those famous words about fear during his Inaugural address in 1933.