Trump trial triggers massive security operation in NYC: 'Threat is much bigger'

A "sophisticated and multi-layered security plan" will be put into place by law enforcement in anticipation of Donald Trump's appearance in a New York courtroom next week as jury selection for his criminal hush money trial is set to begin.

Trump, who is not allowed to skip any court appearances during the trial which is expected to last anywhere from six to eight weeks, will enjoy a more "robust security package" now that he is the presumptive GOP nominee for president in 2024, CNN reported.

"The hallmark of the strategy is a combination of extra staffing, strategically placed frozen zones, high-tech deployments and intelligence, which includes monitoring social media for anything ranging from lone wolf threats to major politically themed protests and disturbances," officials told CNN.

New York Police Department Assistant Chief John Hart, commanding officer of the NYPD’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Division, said that now that Trump is the presumptive nominee, the "threat is much bigger."

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“We had to set up a whole infrastructure around Trump Tower, which we will have to rebuild for this,” Hart said. “We’re going to be looking at the threat picture on a constant basis. Social media scrubbing, just listening to people making calls or making threats online, all of those things.”

“This is six to eight weeks of a trial, jury selection and then a trial, of unprecedented scale,” Hart continued. “A former president running for president on trial here in New York City. It’s a big challenge. It’s a lot of moving parts. He’ll be also moving in and out of the city on a regular basis so we are working with all of our partners, our federal partners, our New York State court officers, all the people on the ground that are going to help us manage that stuff.”

When it comes to transporting Trump to and from the courthouse from his apartment in Trump Tower, the route will be determined by the Secret Service. “I’m sure it’s going to change up. It’s not going to be the same every day," NYPD Assistant Chief James McCarthy told CNN.

“It all depends on where he is at the time,” McCarthy said. “Once he’s in I’d like to make things as back to normal as possible. Once he’s in, we’re good. When he’s leaving, we’re frozen, but I want to make that time as small as possible.”