Trump decries guilty verdict, presses ahead with campaign against Biden
In his first press conference since his conviction, Donald Trump claimed the case was orchestrated by ‘Biden and his people,’ as Republicans rallied around him.
Nine years after making a dramatic appearance at Trump Tower to launch an improbable presidential campaign, Donald Trump did it again -- this time to decry the first-ever criminal conviction of a former president.
Trump didn’t ride down a golden escalator, as he had in June 2015, but he strode into a lobby stuffed with news cameras and reporters, and picked up where he had left off after Thursday’s jury verdict finding him guilty on all 34 counts in his hush-money case.
Trump, who leads President Biden in most polls, complained that he is “the leading person” in the presidential race and yet “under a gag order.” He called the trial “very unfair” and claimed the case was orchestrated by “Biden and his people,” adding, “I don’t know if Biden knows too much about it because I don’t know if he knows about anything.” There is no evidence that the Biden administration was involved in New York prosecutors’ decision to charge Trump in the case.
“We’re going to be appealing this scam,” he said.
Across the street from Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue, more TV crews assembled along with dozens of passersby. A Trump supporter unfurled a huge flag that read “Trump or death.” On the sidewalk someone wrote in chalk, “No one is above the law,” though below that in a different color chalk read, “except Bidens.” In a lengthy monologue, Trump veered from illegal immigration, “terrorists” at the border and electric cars to the legality of hush-money payments and his response to the Jan. 6, 2021, riots by his supporters at the Capitol. Flanked by American flags, Trump touted record-breaking fundraising following news of his conviction, and said that while unpleasant for his family, he was “honored” to fight for the Constitution.
Trump reiterated his attacks on Justice Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial, saying he “looks like an angel, but he’s really the devil,” and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whom he has repeatedly described as conflicted and motivated by politics. He dismissed the conviction against him as less serious than it sounds. After speaking for roughly 35 minutes, Trump left without taking questions from reporters.
Roughly two hours later, Biden fired back. Speaking at the White House, the president said “the American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed.” Biden said Trump was convicted after a judicial process in which he had the opportunity to defend himself and noted the jury reached a unanimous verdict. He said Trump would have the opportunity to appeal because “that’s how the American system of justice works.” “It’s reckless, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged, just because they don’t like the verdict,” Biden said. “Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years and it literally is the cornerstone of America. Our justice system, justice should be respected.” Trump is expected to attend a UFC fight Saturday night in Newark, N.J. Next week he has a fundraising swing through California, according to a person familiar with the plans.
Thursday’s verdict rocked a race between Trump and Biden that has appeared stagnant for months, with Trump holding a narrow lead in the battleground states that will decide the victor, and polls suggesting voters dislike both men.
Among Republicans, it has been a boon for Trump.
His party rallied around him even stronger than before, echoing his claims of a politically motivated, sham trial. Fundraising exploded after the verdict, the Trump campaign said, citing $34.8 million raised online, nearly double the previous high mark for small-dollar donations.
The spectacle Friday was a quintessential Trump production, evoking his 2015 announcement. At the time, he was largely written off as a cartoon. His aggressive attack on immigrants who entered the country illegally, saying they brought drugs and violence, was widely condemned, and he vowed to “build a great wall, and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me.” But the real-estate mogul and reality TV star broke through by appealing to a growing resentment from everyday Americans toward conventional politicians and their unfulfilled promises. Years later, Trump has remade the GOP in his image and Americans are used to the constant churn of controversy around him.
Trump is certain to appeal the case, and his sentencing is scheduled for July 11. Two weeks before that, on June 27, Trump and Biden will hold their first debate, providing an opportunity for both to address voters who haven’t been paying close attention. In mid-July, Trump will attend the GOP convention and by then will have chosen his running mate. He has resisted narrowing down a long list, but his aides plan to start pressing him now that the trial is over, according to people familiar with the process.
Trump has held a slight but steady lead in battleground states throughout the trial and in recent weeks has seen a bump in small-dollar fundraising, helping him outraise Biden for the first time in April. Major GOP donors continue to come around to support him after backing other candidates in the primaries or remaining on the sidelines.
Republicans rallied around Trump after Thursday’s verdict. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) called it “a shameful day in American history,” while Arizona GOP Senate candidate Kari Lake said it was an “egregious example of election interference and an outright mockery of the rule of law.” Democratic Rep. Brendan Boyle of Pennsylvania, meanwhile, said Trump “should be in prison, not the White House.” The verdict also drew criticism from Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is running against Trump and Biden as an independent candidate. “The Democratic Party’s strategy is to beat President Trump in the courtroom rather than the ballot box,” Kennedy Jr. said on X. “This will backfire in November. Even worse, it is profoundly undemocratic.” Some polls have shown a small percentage of GOP voters could think differently about supporting Trump if he were convicted. In a tight race, that could be a problem. An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Thursday found 67% of voters said a guilty verdict would make no difference to their vote, while 17% said it would make them less likely to vote for Trump.
Outside of Trump Tower Friday, views were mixed.
“It’s definitely energized the Trump support,” said Joe Palau, 57 years old, a construction worker from Brooklyn. “I wouldn’t be showing up here or going to rallies if nothing was going on.” Across the street, a group of anti-Trump protesters sang, “No one is above the law. Trump is not above the law.” Among them was Michael Handy, 79, of Manhattan. “I’m glad that he was found guilty, because I believe -- I know -- that he did the crimes,” he said.
Still, Handy said he feared the verdict would rev up Trump’s base. “People I know on Trump’s side are really motivated because they love him. I’m concerned that he could win, and I’m more concerned about what could happen to our democracy.”
Catherine Lucey contributed to this article.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
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