Oct 14

Oct 14 Trump At The Fairmont

Demonstrations, Performance, Protest, Public Declarations

Former President Donald J. Trump was in town today for a speech to the Economics Club of Chicago at the Fairmont Chicago (200 North Columbus Drive). Several pro-Palestinian groups scheduled a demonstration outside, but I was not expecting a heavy turnout given the 11:00 AM start time and weather conditions—drizzle turning into hard rain, with the coldest temperatures of the season.

I gave some consideration to skipping the event, but Trump is a presidential candidate who was speaking in a non-battleground state just weeks before Election Day. Given the two recent assassination attempts against Trump, I also wanted to see what extra security precautions the Secret Service and the Chicago Police Department would implement. Walking past the Trump Tower several days earlier, I saw barriers erected on Wabash when Trump stayed overnight in the tower during a campaign trip to the Midwest. Security officials used a bomb-sniffing dog to inspect each car before the cars were allowed to pass the hotel.

I was not surprised when only a handful of demonstrators turned out today—no more than 10 to 15. They were outnumbered by members of the media.

On the other hand, I was initially shocked by the lack of visible security outside the Fairmont. In total, no more than 10 to 15 police officers and an equal number of bicycle cops were positioned outside the hotel’s entrance on Columbus Drive. Presumably, there were additional police assets stationed out of view. No Secret Service agents were visible, but a helicopter and a drone could be seen overhead.

Over the last year, I have attended four visits by President Joe Biden and one earlier one by Trump. The police presence was far heavier than today’s. The location of today’s event probably explains the reduced coverage. While I did not see Trump’s motorcade arrive, the Fairmount is near Upper Wacker Drive, which means the hotel is accessible from Lower Wacker Drive and the surrounding subterranean streets. As I walked to the hotel, I could see police cars blocking off the streets below, so the Trump motorcade was able to arrive largely out of sight on easily controlled streets and intersections.

As for the demonstrators, they were rather subdued. There may have been one or two chants, but the event was billed as a press conference. Hatem Abudayyeh, executive director of the Arab American Action Network, opened the press conference, telling the media, “We're here because the progressive movement in Chicago does not allow racists to come to our city.” He then discussed why heritage Palestinians and others would not be voting for either Trump or Vice-President Harris. Several others spoke at the press conference, which probably lasted no more than 20 or 25 minutes.

Probably the most interesting aspect of the event was the lead banner. One of the demonstrators told me that it dated to 2020. If Trump is re-elected, I suspect we will see more than a few recycled banners, buttons, and signs.

Around 11:20 AM, the rain started to come down hard, so the media dispersed. I managed to get to my gym, where I was able to watch Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait interview Trump. Because the interview started 45 minutes late, I saw most of what was a hard-hitting Q & A session, with Mickelthwait pushing back against Trump’s obfuscations and lies.

[Click on an Image to Enlarge It. The Images Are Not Necessarily in Exact Chronological Order]