Trump gets underwhelming show of support on surreal day in New York

Really, it was all a bit of an anti-climax. Hundreds of pro- and anti-Trump protesters had gathered outside the Manhattan criminal court, and the crowds were expected to go wild as the former president arrived and was taken into the custody.

But in the event, few knew Donald Trump had arrived until he was already in the building and under arrest.

The anti-Trump protesters, many of whom had had been dancing, singing and chanting since about 9.30am that morning, let out a loud cheer. Someone had been giving out whistles, and they were blown in jubilation.

On the Trump side of the barricade, the mood was quiet. No one wailed, no one fell to their knees, there was just a low murmur as mumbles and expletives were uttered from underneath a sea of red Maga hats.

Over in the anti-Trump section, the mood had been understandably more jubilant. Tuesday was one of the warmest of the year so far, and people were roaming around in T-shirts and sunglasses.

Across the street from Collect Pond Park, that application was taking place, as Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, in relation to the hush money payments in the 2016 election.

But Trump, as he frequently says, is not a normal politician. Perhaps this atypical, chaotic, blundering show of support was, ultimately, appropriate.