A right-wing rally in support of Capitol riot suspects is being planned for Saturday. Trump thinks it's about making him look bad regardless of the outcome, sources told the NYT. There have been concerns that the rally, planned to be outside the US Capitol, could turn violent.
Former President Donald Trump is staying away from the September 18 Washington, DC, rally in support of Capitol riot suspects because he thinks its a set-up to damage his reputation, sources told The New York Times.
"Mr. Trump views the planned protest as a setup that the news media will use against him regardless of the outcome," the Times reported, citing people familiar with his thinking.
Trump is not the only Republican keeping his distance, with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Madison Cawthorn, who were originally scheduled to speak at the event, both canceling their appearances, Politico reported.
Amid the security concerns, police officers have re-erected a security fence around the perimeter of the Capitol that was originally put there in the wake of the insurrection.
Trump appears not to be the only one concerned that the event was a setup, with NBC News reporting on Wednesday that hardline Trump supporters and right-wing extremists on social media channels were riddled with paranoia that the event could be a decoy used to entrap them.
The Department for Homeland Security said that about 700 people were expected to attend the event.
Former President Donald Trump is staying away from the September 18 Washington, DC, rally in support of Capitol riot suspects because he thinks its a set-up to damage his reputation, sources told The New York Times.
"Mr. Trump views the planned protest as a setup that the news media will use against him regardless of the outcome," the Times reported, citing people familiar with his thinking.
Trump is not the only Republican keeping his distance, with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Madison Cawthorn, who were originally scheduled to speak at the event, both canceling their appearances, Politico reported.
Amid the security concerns, police officers have re-erected a security fence around the perimeter of the Capitol that was originally put there in the wake of the insurrection.
Trump appears not to be the only one concerned that the event was a setup, with NBC News reporting on Wednesday that hardline Trump supporters and right-wing extremists on social media channels were riddled with paranoia that the event could be a decoy used to entrap them.
The Department for Homeland Security said that about 700 people were expected to attend the event.
