Former US President Donald Trump has revealed that he expects to be arrested in connection with the Manhattan District Attorney’s investigation next week and has called for protests from his supporters as New York law enforcement prepares for an indictment.
No president of the United States has ever been arrested.
On Saturday, March 18, Trump, referring to himself, said in a social media post that the “leading Republican candidate and former President of the United States will be arrested on Tuesday of next week.”
“Protest, take back our country,” he wrote on Truth Social.
According to reports, several meetings have taken place between New York City, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to discuss how to prepare for Trump’s possible indictment.
While Trump has not stated why he expects to be indicted in his social media posts, his legal team has been anticipating it and has been preparing behind the scenes for the next steps.
According to the Washington Post, Trump is expected to appear in Manhattan following the formal charges and has expressed interest in making a speech.
His call for a protest in response to a potential arrest is reminiscent of his final days in office, when he urged his supporters to reject the results of the 2020 presidential election, culminating in the deadly January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
According to CNN, some of Trump’s advisers privately advised him not to call for protests because they could spiral out of control or resemble the January 6, 2021 attack on the United States Capitol.
Trump’s US Secret Service detail would transport him to the Manhattan district attorney’s office for fingerprinting and mugshots in detective squad offices. Following arrest processing, the former president would be brought directly to an arraignment before a judge, where he would be released, as is customary in cases where a defendant is allowed to voluntarily surrender.
