Six hundred people, 50 bullhorns, pots, pans and a collection of whistles welcomedPresident Donald Trumphome to the White House as he touched down from histumultuous trip to Helsinki. The ear-popping homecoming party was designed to keep the jet-lagged president awake—a last-minute protest pulled together with a single Tweet from a former top advisor toHillary Clinton.
“I think you just did, homie!” one user responded.
With a series of Tweets to known Trump critics and other social media savvy activists,#OccupyLafayetteParktook shape.
Courtesy Philippe Reines and Ian Mellul
Reines was ready for Trump’s arrival,tweeting: “Hey@realDonaldTrumpI’m the guy outside your window blaring this at your window. I’m gonna wait I a bit to let you start dozing off. Then the air horns come out. I’ve got two canisters. That’s 24 1-second bursts or 8 3-second bursts. Any preference?”
“Donald Trump wakes up every day and not only does he not care for half of the country, he only cares for 35 percent,” Reines said in an interview Tuesday. “Something like yesterday brings the 65 percent together.”
According to Adam Parkhomenko, political advisor to Hillary Clinton and one of the first Twitter users to publicize the event, “quite a few Republicans” took to the streets around the White House on Monday night.
“A few of them described themselves as ‘socially liberal and fiscally conservative,’” Parkhomenko told PEOPLE. “They basically said we agree on a ton of stuff and I have a business background. However, enough is enough.”
No Trump supporters appeared to attend as counter-protestors, Reines said.
A few idling tourists decided to stick around—eventually picking up protest signs themselves outside of the White House, Parkhomenko said.
“I really think the protest is a vehicle for people to come and show they want to lift up America,” Parkhomenko remarked. “They are tired of people lifting up Russia and pouring America down. It’s a way for them to show their opposition to this President.”
Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) also showed up, which was “great, especially with such short notice,” Reines said.
Neither Reines or Parkhomenko, who are both in touch with Hillary Clinton, have spoken to the former presidential candidate about #OccupyLafeyettePark. But they are confident she approves.
“Have you seen her Tweets?” Reines said.
Secret Service monitored the protest, moving the crowd back as Marine One landed. The security officers were respectful of protestors, Reines said, explaining every move and allowing the crowd to move forward again once the president entered the White House.
On Twitter, Reines, who extensively researched Trump to play him in Clinton’s mock rehearsals for the 2016 presidential debates,praised the Secret Servicefor being “helpful” and generallymarveled: “WOW We. Were. Loud. No way the traitor didn’t try to drown us out with pillows. We are in his head.”
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The success of the last-minute protest, which carried on until 11 p.m. Monday, inspired #OccupyLafayettePark Day Two.
“Let’s do it again and let’s get a little bigger,” Reines said.
“I hope it brings renewed focus and significant attention on the need for the American people to know why President Trump is abandoning this nation in favor of Vladimir Putin,” Avenatti told PEOPLE, adding that he hopes the protest will draw well over 1,000 people.
Armed with Twitter and a bullhorn, Reines says Night 2 will see him stepping up his game to “protesttreason”—ifall goes as planned. (The verdict is still out on the wisdom of giving his credit-card information to “some kid from the Hill” to purchase a podium and microphone for Tuesday night.)
With Washington’s rain cleared out, Reines announced in aTweetTuesday afternoon that it’s all systems go: “Turn up the heat on the squatter occupying our White House. (see what I did there? weather…heat) #OccupyLafayettePark.”
source: people.com
