Following the verdict in Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial, InfoWars host and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones joined other conservative figures on Monday, endorsing a trucker boycott of New York City.
Trump Fined $354.9M
Judge Arthur Engoron of New York City, who presided over the trial, ruled last Friday that the ex-president must pay a hefty sum of $354.9 million in penalties, finding him guilty of business fraud.
Trump, however, continues to claim his innocence despite the ruling.
#BoycottNYC Trending
Following the verdict, the hashtag ‘Boycott NYC’ gained traction on social media, as truckers who support Trump encouraged a collective refusal to enter New York City. By Sunday, this term had appeared in approximately 13,000 posts on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Right-Wing Media Figure Joins In
Alex Jones, a notable figure in right-wing media and a staunch Trump supporter, gave a significant boost to this proposed boycott on X Monday morning. He urged action in a post saying, “The people have the power. Time to use it! Go Truckers!!”
Trump has yet to make any statements regarding the boycott.
Support from ‘Chicago Ray’
On Monday, February 19, a trucker known as ‘Chicago Ray’ reversed his stance, only a few days after releasing a video on social media urging a boycott of New York City by truckers.
This call to action was initially in response to the court ruling in the fraud trial of former US President Donald Trump.
Changed Stance
Ray, who originally posted the video on his X (previously Twitter) account ‘@Chicago1Ray’, now states that he wants to retract his previous position and move on, emphasizing that he ‘is not encouraging anyone to do anything.’
Ray Clarifies Stance
After removing his original video, ‘Chicago Ray’ uploaded a new video to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday. In this video, he clarifies, “It went viral and my Grandson seen it on TikTok. 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.”
Trucker’s Independent Choice
He also stated that he is not leading any movement, and that truckers should decide for themselves, based on their individual priorities. Hinting at not boycotting NYC, he said, ‘See you down the road.’
Advice to Fellow Drivers
Ray further added, “Drivers can make their own decisions based on their families and their careers… I worked for a place for 18 years and I quit em in one day and had this job b4 I got to my car…. i ain’t the leader of any movement… I’m my own man period.…God Bless America, God Bless Trump and God bless every Truck driver in this country. Cya down the road.”
Effective Strategy?
The concept of trucker boycotts has gained momentum among conservatives following the ‘Freedom Convoy’ in Canada, where truckers protested COVID-19 vaccine mandates in 2021 and 2022.
However, similar efforts in the U.S., including a planned blockade of Washington, D.C., in 2022, have largely been ineffective.
Trump’s New Boundaries
On Friday, Judge Engoron not only imposed restrictions on Donald Trump, Allen Weisselberg, and Jeff McConney, preventing them from holding officer or director roles in any New York corporation or legal entity for three years, but also ordered Donald Jr. and Eric Trump to each pay $4 million and barred them from conducting business in New York for two years.
Trump and Sons Sued
The lawsuit, initiated by New York Attorney General Letitia James, accused Trump, his two adult sons Donald Jr. and Eric, The Trump Organization, and two executives, Allen Weisselberg and Jeff McConney, of inflating asset values to mislead lenders.
Facing Loan Barriers
Weisselberg was mandated to pay $1 million, and The Trump Organization is now prohibited from securing loans in New York for the same duration.
Political Motives at Play?
Trump has denounced the case as politically motivated, aimed at undermining his prospects in the 2024 presidential race where he remains the leading candidate for the GOP nomination.
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