Trump allies offer support amid trial — but he still needs his 'wife in the courtroom': report

Former President Donald Trump was displeased with the amount of support he received in the form of protest ahead of day one of his New York hush money criminal trial.

The morning of the start of his trial, the ex-president posted to social media: "America Loving Protesters should be allowed to protest at the front steps of Courthouses. GO OUT AND PEACEFULLY PROTEST. RALLY BEHIND MAGA. SAVE OUR COUNTRY!"

A Wednesday NBC News report notes a source told the news outlet that Trump even lamented "no one is defending me."

READ MORE: 'Such low energy': Trump relentlessly mocked for once again falling asleep during trial

Tony Schwartz, the ghostwriter behind Trump: The Art of the Deal,told MSNBC's Joy Reid earlier this week that Trump longs to see droves of MAGA fans protesting his trial outside of the courthouse because "he needs anything to shore up the sense of inadequacy and emptiness that pervades his body."

Schwartz emphasized, "Even outside of his awareness. It's why he wants to go out and give speeches right now. Not because he thinks they matter necessarily one way or the other, but because he loves to be beloved."

The MAGA hopeful appears to be getting what he wants, as NBC News reports, several of his allies have shown up to express their support this week, and more will continue to do so, according to a source close to the ex-president.

"Campaign staff will be mobilizing to Trump’s side," the source told NBC, "traveling more frequently to New York as he ramps up his campaigning while out of court."

READ MORE: 'Inadequacy and emptiness': Analyst explains why Trump 'needs protest' outside of his trial

NBC reports:

Bill White, a Trump fundraiser, said he had reached out to the chairs of the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees urging them to do more to show support for Trump and defend him. He said he received a polite message from Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan’s office thanking him. Soon after, Jordan, R-Ohio, in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, attacked the prosecution as 'politicized' and questioned the hiring of a former Justice Department prosecutor who now works for Bragg.

"The people who aren’t defending him, we’re all watching that and remembering," White told the news outlet. "Anybody that endorsed President Trump should be out there every day defending him. And he’s right to question why they’re not."

He continued, "Let’s see if on Thursday there’s another family member that shows up. Because if I’m his jury consultant, I’m saying how do we convey to the jury that these people are not telling the truth: have your wife in the courtroom."

White emphasized, "Everything you’re doing, the jury is watching. It’s smart tactics."

NBC News' full report is available here.