New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio held a public event Monday to tout his own record on climate change, but protesters quickly turned it into a spectacle.
The event, which was to be held outside Trump Tower in NYC, was designed to create buzz for de Blasio as he prepares for a possible 2020 announcement. The mayor himself added that they chose the location specifically to “put the president on notice” regarding the harmful emissions caused by his buildings.
But rain forced the event indoors to the building’s lobby, where the mayor and several other speakers were all but drowned out by the raucous protests.
WATCH:
City Hall reporter Yoav Gonen set the scene in a series of tweets.
NYC mayor who might run for president is holding a rally outside Trump Tower to announce that Trump might owe $2.1 million in fines 11 years from now if he doesn’t comply with a law passed 2 weeks ago https://t.co/Q4E7585jTs
— Yoav Gonen (@yoavgonen) May 13, 2019
He noted that Trump Tower appeared to be “cranking music” in the lobby, making it more difficult for spectators to hear the speakers.
Trump Tower is cranking music that’s making it hard to hear de Blasio presser. Trump supporters are riding up and down the escalators in background heckling him with “worst mayor ever” signs. Mayor hasn’t even spoken yet
— Yoav Gonen (@yoavgonen) May 13, 2019
Mayor is losing his voice because he has to scream to be heard
— Yoav Gonen (@yoavgonen) May 13, 2019
According to a report from Politico, protesters also raised questions about the fact that Trump was the only landlord de Blasio could name who was not compliant with his proposed NYC Green New Deal, and about his continued use of motorcades for travel.
That message was somewhat blunted when the mayor was unable to name any other landlords with high-emissions buildings and when it was revealed de Blasio had been driven to the event — a sore spot for a mayor who has been criticized for regularly riding a gas-guzzling SUV to his local gym.
De Blasio told the gathered crowd that he planned to announce his decision on a potential 2020 presidential bid in the next week and told reporters that the protesters didn’t bother him. (RELATED: Bill De Blasio Draws Six-Person Crowd In New Hampshire)
“This is a public space where people are allowed to express their views. In New York City, we’re perfectly tough. If people want to offer their opposition, it doesn’t change me one bit,” he said.
And then he took aim at the president in a tweet, accusing him of “running scared.”
.@realDonaldTrump is running scared from NYC’s Green New Deal. The temper tantrum his organization threw at Trump Tower today is proof.
You’re on notice, Donald: we won’t let you mortgage our future for your real estate. Fix your buildings or pay the price.
We WILL collect. pic.twitter.com/3wHT4gr2km
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) May 13, 2019