Donald Trump has faced heavy backlash due to his initial response to the violent white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia over the weekend. With the president making his way back to New York City on Monday night, hundreds of protesters gathered together outside of Trump Tower.
Trump protest
It's no secret that Donald Trump is not the most well-liked president in history. Ever since the day he kicked off his campaign for president back in the summer of 2015, the former host of "The Apprentice" has been loved by a minority of Americans, but nearly hated by the majority.
Despite this, Trump's controversial campaign style was able to propel him to victory in the Republican primary last summer, before pulling off the historic upset victory over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton last November. One of the biggest knocks on Trump and his campaign turned administration has been his alleged racist policies and rhetoric. Following the white nationalist "Unite the Right" rally in Virginia this past weekend, resulting in the death of one protester and injuring dozens more, Trump spoke out. After initially refusing to call out white nationalism by name, Trump finally did so on Monday, but it was too late for his critics. As reported by NBC News on August 14, protesters gathered outside of Trump Tower before the president made his return to New York City.
Protesters display a giant inflatable rat in the likeness of President Trump ahead of his arrival at Trump Tower in New York City pic.twitter.com/farMQL48kk
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 14, 2017
Taking to Twitter on Monday afternoon, Donald Trump tweeted out his plan to return to New York City later in the evening. "Leaving for New York City and meetings on military purchases and trade," Trump tweeted out.
In response, critics of the president took to the street outside of Trump Tower.
NYPD officers appear to detain a protester outside Trump Tower in New York ahead of the president's arrival later this evening https://t.co/rlyBOKGXti
— NBC News (@NBCNews) August 14, 2017
Protests carried a giant inflatable mock Donald Trump with an over-sized head, as chants of "Donald Trump has got to go" could be heard.
NBC News then reported and caught on video at least one protester being arrested, with the footage showing a police officer handcuffing her on the ground.
Protesters pass Rockefeller Center on their way to Trump Tower ahead of the president's arrival tonight pic.twitter.com/IFTOFnfrd9
— 👇JillianSederholm👇 (@JillianSed) August 14, 2017
Next up
As the tension in the United States continues over issues of race, it doesn't look to be slowing down Donald Trump. Prior to the protest, Trump took to Twitter and lashed out at the mainstream media, calling them "fake news," for not accepting his recent remarks condemning white nationalism. As of press time, the president is sitting on an approval rating of just 35 percent, which doesn't seem to be improving, causing even more pressure on the White House.
