MIAMI, Florida — The call and response of former President Donald Trump supporters and protesters, passing motorists blaring their car horns, and the drum of a helicopter above — that is the cacophony of sounds outside Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse in downtown Miami before Trump's arrest and arraignment for his classified documents case, the first former president charged with federal crimes.
"We love Trump," some chanted. "Trump indictment celebration tour," one sign read.
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Reporters and TV crews may have outnumbered dedicated supporters and opponents, at least two of whom had traveled from as far as Texas, in addition to the odd curious onlooker. But they made their presence known by singing Trump "Happy Birthday" or raising a "Lock him up" placard over their heads beside stalls selling merchandise emblazoned with the former president's name.
There were moments when tempers flared. Anti-Trump demonstrator Domenic Santant lashed out at a pro-Trump counterpart for infringing on his personal space.
A 2024 Republican presidential candidate, multimillionaire entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, was cheered and jeered as he called on his GOP rivals to pledge to pardon Trump should they win next year's primary and general election.
Concerns of Trump supporters organizing a Jan. 6 riot in the court precinct appear overblown despite riot police and a temporary clearing of the grounds due to a scare. Security escalated after the former president's supporters, including 2022 Republican Arizona gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake, encouraged others to express their opinion about the case. Lake told a crowd the previous day during a nearby event, "They can't arrest us all," and "They can't indict all of us."
Trump spent Monday night at Trump National Doral Miami with his son Eric, co-defendant Walt Nauta, and attorneys, including Todd Blanche and Chris Kise, though he has been unable to retain Florida-based counsel. The former president spoke with hotel guests in the lobby, who shouted their support and asked for photographs, according to CNN. The Guardian reported he had dinner at BLT Prime.
"They're all fake," Trump told Americano Media earlier. "Under the Presidential Records Act, I'm allowed to do all those things. You're allowed to keep the documents. You negotiate with the archives."
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Trump faces 37 felony counts, including under the Espionage Act, according to special counsel Jack Smith's 49-page indictment after the case was considered by a Miami grand jury.
Smith's indictment alleges Trump mishandled classified documents after he departed the White House and resisted efforts to return them to the National Archives and Records Administration. The government alleges the former president retained 31 documents related to sensitive defense secrets, from nuclear programs to attack plans, shared them with people without clearances on at least two occasions, and was personally involved in the decision to withhold them. He allegedly stored the documents in unsecured locations, including in his Mar-a-Lago Palm Beach resort and club's ballroom and a nearby bathroom beside a toilet. The Espionage Act charges carry a sentence of up to 10 years each, obstructing justice up to 20 years, and making false statements five years.