11-6-2023 (WASHINGTON) In the face of a 37-count federal felony indictment issued against him this week, Donald Trump declared on Saturday his unwavering determination to run for president, even if he were to be convicted.
During an interview aboard his plane, Trump asserted, “I’ll never leave. Look, if I would have left, I would have left prior to the original race in 2016. That was a rough one. In theory, that was not doable.” Legally, there is no prohibition against running for president from prison or as a convicted felon, but such a bid would undoubtedly place immense strain on the country’s political and legal systems.
The former president launched scathing criticism against special counsel Jack Smith, contending that the case against him was politically motivated and weak. He described the prosecutors as “thugs and degenerates who are after me.” Trump confidently predicted that he would not be convicted and expressed no intention of accepting a plea deal, though he did leave open the possibility of seeking damages.
When questioned about the possibility of pardoning himself should he secure the presidency in 2024, Trump evaded a direct answer, stating, “I don’t think I’ll ever have to. I didn’t do anything wrong.”
While Trump acknowledged that campaign fundraising had experienced a surge since the indictment was unsealed, he admitted that it was an unwelcome development. “Nobody wants to be indicted,” he admitted. “I don’t care that my poll numbers went up by a lot. I don’t want to be indicted. I’ve never been indicted. I went through my whole life, now I get indicted every two months. It’s been political.”
Trump repeatedly invoked the Presidential Records Act to assert his innocence, a contentious interpretation of the law that he has previously presented.
These remarks came as Trump traveled between speeches to Republicans in Georgia and North Carolina. The trip followed the unsealing of a 37-count indictment by Jack Smith, which included charges of violating the Espionage Act, retaining classified documents, and obstructing justice. Trump is scheduled to appear in court in Miami on Tuesday.
Trump’s personal valet, Waltine Nauta, also faces charges and was seen accompanying Trump on Saturday. Nauta, the aide, followed Trump out of his SUV upon their arrival at Newark, N.J., Airport en route to Georgia.
In addition to the federal indictment, Trump is also confronting charges in New York related to allegations of concealing hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels. Moreover, he is under investigation in Georgia for his attempts to pressure officials to overturn the state’s 2020 vote count. Jack Smith is also probing Trump’s role in inciting the January 6 Capitol riot. The impact of the recent indictment on the GOP presidential primary remains unclear, although following the New York indictment, the former president experienced an upswing in poll numbers and fundraising support as Republican voters rallied behind him.
Trump’s campaign is seeking to replicate this momentum, with his team appealing to supporters to generate small-dollar contributions.
Throughout Saturday, it became evident that Trump’s most ardent supporters remained undeterred by the news. Along the highway adjacent to the runway at Columbus, Ga., supporters lined up, waving flags and standing atop trucks to catch a glimpse of the jet emblazoned with “Trump” as it touched down. Upon disembarking, Trump was greeted by a group of supporters on the tarmac, some holding signs declaring it a “witch hunt.” At the Georgia state party convention, attendees donning “Make America Great Again” hats filled the crowd, and a few audience members shouted, “We love you” while the former president spoke.
Shortly after, Trump made a stop at a Waffle House restaurant, where he was mobbed by devoted fans, one of whom offered him a copy of her mother’s meatloaf recipe. Trump then proceeded to the airport, where he posed for pictures with police officers.
The presence of North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson, a Trump supporter overseeing the House GOP campaign arm, on the campaign trail indicated Trump’s enduring influence over the congressional wing of his party. Trump was also accompanied by Marjorie Taylor Greene, a fiery Georgia congresswoman and loyal ally.
However, the classified documents case, along with the comprehensive 49-page indictment, is widely regarded as far more severe than the one in New York. Trump’s opponents are hopeful that his legal troubles will divert his attention from the campaign.
