Donald Trump keeps comparing security outside his trial to Fort Knox, but reporters and others who've been to the Manhattan courthouse keep fact-checking his claim as false.
The former president complained that his supporters were unable to protest outside the courthouse, where he claimed Monday morning that no civilians were allowed within three blocks, and MSNBC's Stephanie Ruhle flatly stated he was wrong.
"This is categorically FALSE. Today is my first day attending the trial and Mr Trump's description of the area surrounding the courthouse does not resemble the truth," Ruhle posted on X. "People were lined up outside between barriers (press & non-press). And the park directly across from the courthouse is completely open to the public."
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Trump has been making the "Fort Knox" comparison for weeks during the case, but photos and videos recorded outside the courthouse have consistently shown a phalanx of photojournalists and reporters lined up across the street, while a handful of demonstrators usually mill about in a nearby designated area as police officers stand by.
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The former president has on multiple occasions encouraged his supporters to come to the courthouse en masse to protest, telling them to expect police to turn away thousands of them, possibly with violent tactics.
Although some security measures have been put into place, such as closing off some streets with police and barricades to ensure the former president's safety, the designated protest zone is easily accessible and directly across the street from the courthouse, which remains open to the public.
In fact, nearly anyone can go into the trial courtroom or a nearby overflow room showing a live video feed if they arrive early enough and wait in line until capacity is reached for each room.
