Washington, DC — Hundreds of protesters have been gathering at the White House this week, denouncing President Donald Trump for his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. Wednesday was the third night of protests as furious crowds chanted and shouted for his impeachment outside the North Portico of the White House.
The protests were triggered by a series of Trump’ comments over the last week in which he criticized American intelligence agencies, denounced Special Prosecutor Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation of his election campaign, faulted the U.S. over increasing tensions with Russia, but came out largely in support of Putin, despite a growing body of evidence Russia meddled in the 2016 election.
Protesters carried cardboard signs with slogans such as “Impeach 45” and “Putin’s Puppet” while chanting “Impeach 45!” and “This is what democracy looks like.” Speakers from several political action groups urged Congress to act on impeachment proceedings. Other protesters held large battery-powered letters spelling out “LIAR” and “TREASON” which were visible from a block away.
It was not clear if the President has been inside during any of the protests which have lasted until after 10 pm. Secret Service beefed up officer strength at the White House near the iron fence as protest numbers have been growing.
For a time officers allowed the boisterous crowd to stand with signs overhead on the sidewalk, an allowance they don’t normally make. But as the crowd size and noise level have grown, they have ordered protesters off the sidewalk and onto Pennsylvania Avenue.
Michael Avanetti, an attorney and well-known critic of the President, slammed Trump on Tuesday night for his role at the Helsinki conference. He questioned his allegiance to the constitution, the nation, and its citizens. “Our troops didn’t die in Yorktown, didn’t take Normandy beach, didn’t rebuild Europe and secure the postwar peace that you are now destroying, Mr. President, for you to live as a Manchurian candidate in our White House,” said Avanetti.
He also challenged conservative American citizens to acknowledge the President they elected did not necessarily support them, the Constitution, or the country. “To my brothers and sisters on the Right, I cannot fathom that after witnessing this president stand shoulder to shoulder with Vladimir Putin, and choose Russia over America, that you continue to stand behind this President,” he said.
Center for American Progress President Neers Tanden criticized members of the Congress for their support of Trump’s conduct in the wake of the Helsinki conference. She also urged citizens to take action in their congressional districts to prevent the confirmation of ultra-conservative Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.
Trump met Putin behind closed doors with no advisors present during the 2-hour meeting on Monday. The meeting took place one day after Special Prosecutor Mueller filed charges against 12 more Russian intelligence agents, alleging they were involved in a sophisticated software hack of the Democratic National Committee servers, interfered in the 2016 election, and created chaos in state primaries leading up to the election. Mueller’s recent indictments include allegations that Russian intelligence funneled $30 million through the NRA gun lobby to support Trump’s campaign.
The new indictments provided yet more fuel for protests which have besieged the Administration since it moved into the White House.
Some prominent Congressional Democrats joined protesters on Wednesday evening. Several Senators warned of the consequences in store if at some point the President attempted to fire Mueller and stop the FBI investigation into the conduct of the President’s election campaign staff during the 2016 presidential election.
In a press conference held a day before his meeting with President Putin, Trump castigated the European Union, calling it a “foe” of the U.S. Trump was critical of the U.S. intelligence community saying the United States had been very “foolish” while failing to challenge Russia on its role in the election meddling.
Trump’s comments in support of Russia and his acceptance of Putin’s denial that its intelligence operations had intervened in the election, fueled growing outrage in the mainstream. The surge of mainstream protesters at the White House the last three days is largely a reflection of growing discontent with the Administration.
Nightly protests are planned in Lafayette Square at the White House with organizers promising to return indefinitely or until Congress brings Trump to heel.
