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Trump critics, backers face off outside Trump Tower

People gather during a rally in support of U.S. President Donald Trump at Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York, February 5, 2017. (Photo by Reuters)

Supporters and opponents of US President Donald Trump have held rivaling rallies outside Trump Tower in New York City.

The 100 or so pro-Trump demonstrators gathered outside the property developer’s high-rise in Manhattan despite a bitingly cold on Sunday.

Chanting "God Bless America" and holding signs that read, "Make America Great Again," the demonstrators urged their fellow Americans to give Trump a chance.

They also voiced support for Trump’s entry ban against people from several Muslim countries, carrying a big white banner that read, "Welcome the Trump Era!"

However, it did not take long before dozens of counter-demonstrators showed up and tried to disrupt the rally, which was the first of its kind in Trump’s predominantly Democratic city. He only won 18 percent of the votes in the city.

Kept apart by police officers, the two groups tried to make themselves heard over each other.

"No ban, no wall, refugees are welcome here," shouted the anti-Trump protesters, referring to the president’s Muslim ban as well as his proposed wall on the border with Mexico.

Opponents of US President Donald Trump shout at his supporters outside Trump Tower, New York, February 5, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Cindy Grosz, a co-organizer of the pro-Trump rally, said Americans should give the new president a chance.

"He's been in office less than three weeks. He's entitled to have a fair shot and to run the government the way he wants to," she said.

Since the beginning of his term in the White House, Trump has come under attack from Democrats and Republicans over a series of controversial decisions.

He started to irritate his critics by authorizing a wall on the border with Mexico to stop inflow of illegal immigrants from the southern neighbor.

Trump then ordered the construction of two controversial pipelines to continue, drawing ire from Native American tribes and environmental activists about the implications of the massive projects.

Trump caused international uproar last week, by signing an executive order that banned citizens of Iran, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, Iraq and Somalia from entering the US.

Sunday’s demonstrations were no match for the rallies that were held against Trump’s Muslim ban across the world.


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