New York's Collect Pond Park was awash in Trump shirts and Make America Great Again hats on Monday. There was a giant flag waving in the breeze emblazoned with the words “TRUMP 2024: SAVE AMERICA" and one with Donald Trump's mugshot.

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, a separate set of protesters, wearing black shirts with phrases like "Trump lies all the time" on them, expressed their disdain for the legal woes of the former president. There was a banner nearby that read "NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW."

The first day of Trump’s New York criminal trial had all the signs of a 2024 elections event that was also part of a historical event happening in a Manhattan courthouse.

For most of the country, this trial is perhaps the last time they'll see Trump in court ahead of the general election. The outcome of this trial could have an impact on the election and how voters perceive Trump, even if Monday's crowd had long since made up their minds.

So I decided to talk to people in attendance about why they were there. All of them were from New York.

Trump fans aren't going to change their mind

 

“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 haters will never see him differently

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

“This is symbolic of what Trump does all the time,” said Jackie Rudin, one of the anti-Trump protesters. “He uses laws for his own good. What we’re finding out is that our judicial system – everything that guides and creates our bylaws – is not sufficient to deal with somebody like Donald Trump.”

Another woman told me that several of the protesters with Rise and Resist were involved in AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, a grassroots organization known for its direct action at the height of the AIDS epidemic. Similar to ACT UP, the Rise and Resist crowd is focused 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.”

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

The dueling scenes played out without much fanfare, outside of the occasional counterprotester trying to agitate either side.

It’s the kind of scene that has flooded the country’s political discourse for going on a decade – the Trump supporters and the Trump haters set up near each other, yell about what they believe, then go home or log off social media.

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The crowds outside the courthouse Monday were relatively small. Only the most dedicated from either side were out in New York to express their feelings on 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 hectic election year. So I have to wonder if the rest of the country is paying attention to this trial, and to whatever comes next, the same way that the people I met on Monday are paying attention. Probably not.

Trump trial: Judge Merchan mulls prosecution request to fine Trump $3,000 for attacking witnesses

Former President Donald Trump enters the courtroom in Manhattan on Monday in this courtroom sketch..

On the first day of Trump’s first criminal trial, prosecutors asked Judge Juan Merchan to fine Trump $3,000 for three social media posts attacking witnesses who will testify in the hush money case against him that they say violate a gag order put in place by the judge last month. Merchan said Monday that he will hear further arguments on the prosecution request on April 24.

📌 Tell me more

• In recent social media posts, Trump attacked his former lawyer Michael Cohen and adult-film star Stormy Daniels, both of whom are expected to testify, calling them “sleazebags.”

• Prosecutors asked Merchan to sanction Trump $3,000 for the social media posts, which they say violated the judge’s gag order that prevents Trump from making statements about the participation of prospective witnesses.

• Trump’s lawyers argued that the former president was “responding to salacious, repeated attacks by these witnesses.”

• Merchan responded to that point by saying, “I don't recall that there's an exception if he's being attacked.”

• During a lunch break, Trump posted a video of right-wing ally Laura Loomer verbally attacking Merchan's wife.

• The judge also made a series of rulings earlier in the day on what evidence prosecutors could present during the trial. They’ll be allowed to enter into the record a transcript of the famous Access Hollywood tape in which Trump boasts about being able to sexually assault women, but the video will not be shown.

• Merchan gave instructions on the trial schedule, including that court will not be in session most Wednesdays. He also rejected a request by Trump to be excused from the trial next week so that he could attend arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on his motion that presidential immunity protects him from being prosecuted in the Jan. 6 election interference case.

• “We've got a real problem with this judge,” Trump said upon leaving the courtroom of Merchan's decision not to allow him to miss court next week.

• Jury selection also began on Monday, with potential jurors being asked questions about where they get their news, any possible affiliations with groups like QAnon, the Proud Boys or Antifa, whether they have any views on how Trump is being treated in the case, etc.

• In all, 96 potential jurors were called, with roughly half being dismissed after they indicated they did not think they could fairly reach a verdict in the case against Trump.

• Jury selection will resume on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. ET in the hopes of identifying 12 jurors and six alternates. While several prospective jurors passed an initial screening, they will also later be questioned by defense and prosecution lawyers before being seated on the jury.