After spending days parked at Palm Beach International Airport, a Boeing 757 lifted off at 1:00 pm, 19:00 peninsula time. The individual had moved his legal address to Palm Beach in 2019 after decades in New York, a move that followed 76 years of residence elsewhere.
Since 10 a.m. (4:00 p.m. Spanish time), supporters of the former president have been lining both sides of the street, waving banners and honking in a chorus of backing as the aircraft departed. Passersby described the atmosphere as a show of solid support from a devoted crowd.
A banner reading “Vote Republican or America dies” was carried by a demonstrator on the bridge linking Palm Beach island to the mainland, symbolizing the intense political energy surrounding the day’s events.
More than 200 people gathered with signs and U.S. flags to applaud the former president as his vehicle was part of a caravan that moved through the area toward the airport. Observers noted that almost all vehicles, all black save for one white one, slowed down in the procession but did not roll down their windows, keeping a steady show of support from within their compartments.
Club 47, a group named after the 45th president, aims to chart a new course in the 2024 elections. A spokesperson described the demonstration as peaceful as the convoy proceeded toward the airport to see the former leader off.
All eyes on New York
The former president was due to appear in a New York court the following day, where the charges against him would be addressed. Prosecutor Alvin Bragg has indicted him over payments related to a sexual encounter with a porn actress in 2016, with the grand jury’s indictment supporting the claim to prevent discussion of that alleged relationship. The legal filing details a payment of $130,000 allegedly made by attorney Michael Cohen on behalf of the former president, who was a Republican candidate in 2016 and remains a central political figure today.
The former president announced on his Truth Social platform that his trip to New York would include demonstrations organized by his supporters. He added that he would stay at Trump Tower, his longtime residence on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue, where security measures have been visibly heightened for weeks and protective barriers line avenues and entrances.
In a post, he asserted that he would attend court on Tuesday morning and lamented that the country should not be in such a state. The president wrote, in bold letters and multiple exclamation marks, that the situation represented “election interference” and attacked the New York Attorney General’s office as corrupt. He also directed harsh words at Judge Juan Merchan, who was slated to preside over the proceedings, accusing the judge of hostility and bias.
Remarks on the return
After the court appearance, the former president was expected to return to Palm Beach and testify at his Mar-a-Lago estate. This marked a historic moment as he became the first former U.S. president to face criminal charges in the nation’s history, a development that sparked intense national debate and widespread media coverage.
Recent polling from SSRS for CNN indicated that a majority of Americans supported the impeachment effort, with about 62 percent expressing approval. The survey also showed that roughly three-quarters of respondents believed politics played a role in the decision to impeach the former president. Among those who felt politics mattered, 52 percent considered it an important factor.
The poll results reflected a nation divided in its assessment of the president’s actions in the Stormy Daniels matter. When asked about the legality and ethics of the payments, 37 percent deemed the actions illegal, 33 percent viewed them as unethical but not illegal, 20 percent admitted they did not know, and 10 percent believed nothing was wrong.
As the legal and political drama continues to unfold, observers in the United States and abroad monitor how these developments will shape the political landscape ahead of elections in 2024 and beyond. Commentary from legal experts and political analysts emphasizes the potential implications for civil discourse, judicial independence, and the evolving standards of accountability for former presidents.