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Former President Donald Trump called on his supporters to protest this week, urging them to "rally behind MAGA."
On Monday, Trump shared a new post on his Truth Social account where he spoke about ongoing pro-Palestinian protests at different colleges, such as Columbia University, and how his supporters should be protesting his legal battles, like his criminal trial in Manhattan.
"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,'" Trump wrote.
"GO OUT AND PEACEFULLY PROTEST. RALLY BEHIND MAGA. SAVE OUR COUNTRY! THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO FEAR IS FEAR ITSELF," the post added.
The comments by Trump came as the former president is in New York for the criminal trial brought by District Attorney Alvin Bragg for alleged hush money payments made to former adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Bragg indicted Trump in April 2023 for "fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal crimes that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election." Trump has continued to deny any wrongdoing and was previously placed under a gag order by New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the case.
Over the past several days, tensions have risen at New York's Columbia University after pro-Palestinian students set up a "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" on campus. Tensions on university campuses have been high over the past six months as Israel continues its war in Gaza, which began after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel on October 7. Over 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Associated Press, citing local health officials.
The students announced that they were protesting the university's ties to Israel and called on the university to divest itself from any companies affiliated with Israel. Columbia University President Minouche Shafik announced that classes would be virtual on Monday to avoid any possible violence.
In another post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Unlike at Columbia University where the Radical Left Palestinian Protesters sat on the Front Lawn, practically took over the School, and screamed, 'Death to the Jews, Death to Israel, Death to America,' and nothing happened to them, Lower Manhattan surrounding the Courthouse, where I am heading now, is completely CLOSED DOWN. SO UNFAIR!!!"
Responding to Newsweek's request for comment, Trump's spokesperson noted that the former president urged his supporters to "peacefully protest" in his post.
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About the writer
Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more