After becoming the first US president to be convicted of a crime, Donald Trump denounced the trial as “rigged” and vowed that the “real verdict” would be delivered by the American people on November 5. Speaking outside the courtroom, Trump criticized the proceedings and reiterated his belief that the final judgment would be made in the upcoming election.
Guilty on All Counts
A New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying documents to conceal a payment to silence a porn star before the 2016 election. Trump faced 34 felony counts, all of which he was found guilty of. He condemned the trial as “disgraceful” and insisted that the public would see through what he described as a politically motivated prosecution.
Campaign Video Release
Following the verdict, Trump released a campaign video portraying the conviction as part of a larger battle against political adversaries. He pledged to dismantle what he termed the “deep state,” expel war mongers, and drive out globalists, communists, Marxists, and fascists from the government. Trump also vowed to challenge the “fake news media” and liberate America from these perceived threats.
JUST IN: Donald Trump releases the following video after he was found guilty in the New York City hush money trial.
🔥🔥🔥
“This is the final battle. With you at my side, we will demolish the deep state. We will expel the war mongers from our government. We will drive out the… pic.twitter.com/YdVK3GJDH0
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 30, 2024
Supporters’ Reactions
Trump supporters across the country expressed shock and anger at the conviction. Outside the New York courtroom, one emotional supporter claimed that Trump had just secured his re-election. Ukrainian-American journalist Oliya Scootercaster reported the man’s remarks, highlighting the deep loyalty Trump inspires among his base.
Supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump
Demonstrators hold placards outside the Manhattan criminal court
Biden Campaign’s Response
The Biden campaign swiftly responded to the verdict, emphasizing that “no one is above the law.” Spokesman Michael Tyler called for donations and warned against a second Trump term, predicting it would bring chaos, threaten freedoms, and incite political violence. Tyler stressed that the only way to prevent Trump from returning to the Oval Office was through the ballot box.
Republican Lawmakers Condemn Verdict
Republican lawmakers reacted with fury to Trump’s conviction, questioning the legitimacy of the trial. House Speaker Mike Johnson called it a “shameful day in American history” and described the charges as “purely political.” Ohio Senator J.D. Vance labeled the verdict a “disgrace to the judicial system,” while Louisiana Representative Steve Scalise criticized the decision as a defeat for those who believe in blind justice. Many Republicans echoed Trump’s assertion that the trial was rigged and politically motivated.
Vivek Ramaswamy’s Criticism
Indian-American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy took to X (formerly Twitter) to denounce the trial, calling it a “sham” and criticizing the judge, prosecutors, and star witness. He condemned the trial as an example of a biased judicial process and suggested that the jury’s instructions were unfairly lenient towards conviction.
The only thing more 3rd-world than the NY courtroom was the sham trial that played out inside: second-rate judge, third-rate prosecutors, fourth-rate “star” witness. The judge specifically instructed the jury that they *didn’t have to agree on the crime* to convict. Shameful.
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) May 31, 2024
Trump’s Next Steps
Trump is expected to appeal the verdict swiftly. As the political and legal battles continue, both his supporters and opponents brace for further developments in this unprecedented case.
