Some right-wing truckers — well, one, at least — are so upset that Trump got caught with his hand in the cookie jar — and wouldn’t ever let go, to continue the metaphor — that they want to punish all of New York City for . . . I guess, for not stopping the judge from doing his job:
Rolling Stone: Trump Endorses Trucker Campaign to Stop Deliveries to NYC in Protest of Fraud Ruling
A pro-Trump trucker and right-wing influencer who goes by the handle Chicago Ray posted a video to X, formerly Twitter, on Friday night claiming that he has spoken to “at least” 10 truckers who will “start refusing loads” headed for New York City. Ray wants truckers to stop deliveries to the city in the wake of a New York court ruling ordering the former president to pay $355 million in damages after he and the Trump Organization were found liable for committing financial fraud.
Trump, of course, driven by his highmindedness, his concern for the average American, his commitment to fairness . . . is egging them on. (What, you were expecting something else?)
“Such an honor to have so many Great Patriots on the side of FREEDOM!” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, celebrating the trucker campaign on Saturday night. “Joe Biden’s Unfair and Dangerous Weaponization of Law Enforcement is a serious threat to Democracy. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
So he counters his imagined weaponization of law enforcement (which he is sure Biden is doing because that’s what he would do) with the real (potential) weaponization of the trucking business — which, it is unnecessary to note (but I’m gonna do it anyway) has nothing to do with justice, Trump, or the New York courts.
Rolling Stone has no idea how many idiots will join this idiot. But given past performance (remember the “take our border back” convoy that was a complete flop). So they fell back on that well-worn (and worn-out) cliche, “remains to be seen.” Seriously. I mean, these people play with words for a living; can’t they come up with something fresh?
Whether the truckers’ campaign will grow large enough to result in any disruption of the flow of goods into New York remains to be seen. At the moment, we only have Ray’s claims, although his video received more than six million views as of early Sunday afternoon. Ray promised to give followers an update on Monday.
Ray, the trucker, is claiming huge support: Ray claimed that 95% of truckers support the former president in the X post, which has been viewed more than 4.6 million times and received more than 50,000 likes since Friday night.
But that may or may not translate into, shall we say, wheels on the ground.
Truckers Vow to Cut Off Deliveries to NYC in Protest of Trump’s $355 Million Civil-Fraud Ruling
“I’ve been on the radio talking to drivers for about the past hour and I’ve talked to about ten drivers . . . and they’re going to start refusing loads to New York City starting on Monday,” he said in the video while driving his truck.
Ray said he wasn’t sure “how far across the country this is” or how many truckers will join in protesting the decision against Trump, “but I’ll tell you what — you f*** around and find out,” he said.
“Our bosses ain’t gonna care if we deny the loads — we’ll just go somewhere else. Do you know how f***ing hard it is to get into New York City with one of these motherf***ers?” the trucker said, referring to his truck. “Man, f*** that.”
[6:07 PM Pacific] I just thought to add the obvious question: What do these truckers (assuming it ends up being more than one) hope to gain by this? Judge Engoron reverses his decision? AG James decides not to contest the appeal? Maybe the appellate division (which meets in NYC) will throw the case out rather than . . . what? Miss a meal? Inquiring minds want to know.
[Update 10:50 AM PST, after I was alerted by some recent comments below]
Seems Chicago Ray has had a change of heart:
Trump-loving trucker quickly backtracks from threat to boycott NYC to protest fraud ruling
Donald Trump-loving trucker "Chicago Ray" has already backed down on his threat to boycott New York City to protest the penalty in the ex-president's fraud trial. . . .
"Just to be clear," he posted on Twitter afterwards. "I'm no figurehead of any movement. I'm not leading, nor have I encouraged, or am I encouraging anyone to do anything other than what they were doing prior to the ruling Friday in New York City.
Sounds like someone got to him, possibly pointing out some legal or financial consequence to his boycott call.
Or maybe not, because he later backed down from his backing down:
"Chicago Ray" later deleted that post, as well, after other social media users accused him of backing off his threat out of fear of getting fired. He followed up with another explanation.
"I took that video down from Friday bc it went viral and my grandson seen [sic] it on Tik Tok," he claimed. "No one's got to me ... I heard what drivers were saying and I'm hearing some of that today, I ain't scared of s--t. I grew up in Chicago I stand with Trump 100%. Truckers for Trump Drivers can make their own decisions based on their families and their careers."
