President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday touted that “Bikers for Trump” will be at his inauguration, after the group’s leader vowed to form a “wall of meat” to defend the ceremony against anti-Trump protesters.
“People are pouring into Washington in record numbers. Bikers for Trump are on their way. It will be a great Thursday, Friday and Saturday!” Trump tweeted.
The Department of Homeland Security is estimating an overall attendance of about 800-900 thousand, including protesters — about 1 million shy of Obama’s record-setting inauguration in 2009.
Hotels in DC are also reporting that bookings are falling short of Obama’s first inauguration, but are about on pace with his second inauguration in 2013.
The DC city council says there have been three times as many bus parking permits requested for the historic Women’s march following Trump’s inauguration than for the inauguration itself.
More than 20 groups have received permits to hold protests in Washington during inauguration week, and some demonstrators have vowed to “shut down” the ceremony Friday.
{mosads}But Chris Cox, the founder of “Bikers for Trump,” told “Fox & Friends” on Sunday that the group will attend the inauguration and will form a “wall of meat” if necessary, signaling that supporters would try to stop protesters attempting to disrupt the swearing-in ceremony.
“We’ll be shoulder-to-shoulder with our brothers and toe-to-toe with anyone that is going to break through and police barriers,” Cox said.