Former President Trump broke his silence after the release of a 49-page federal indictment, consisting of 37 charges related to mishandling classified information. In a defiant address to a crowd of Republican delegates in Columbus, Georgia, Trump vowed never to surrender to what he called President Biden’s “Stalinist” tactics.
Taking the stage at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center, Trump passionately claimed that he was being framed for treason once again, declaring, “They tried it before, and they’re trying it again.” However, his speech was often meandering and lacked coherence.
In a scathing attack, Trump accused Biden of attempting to imprison his chief political rival, comparing the situation to the tactics employed in Stalinist Russia and communist China.
Despite facing serious allegations, Trump brushed them off as ridiculous and baseless. He humorously remarked, “Every time I fly over a blue state, I get a subpoena,” implying a politically motivated legal targeting.
Expressing disbelief at the turn of events, Trump stated, “I never imagined something like this happening in the United States.”
Making a pledge to the attendees of the GOP convention, he asserted, “I have risked everything for you, and I will never back down.” Notably, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a vocal critic of Trump, was absent from the stage during his address.
Trump presented himself as the only candidate capable of dismantling the corrupt system, emphasizing his determination to fight against the radical left Democrats and their partisan prosecutors, even if it means facing a grand jury.
He placed the blame for the country’s economic downturn and loss of international standing squarely on Vice President Biden.
Trump claimed that without Biden’s influence, the nation wouldn’t have suffered as much damage, suggesting that the current president is responsible for the country’s decline.
Referring to the ongoing federal cases against him, Trump alleged that the radical left was using law enforcement to interfere with elections, deeming the situation utterly corrupt and vowing not to allow it to happen.
“We will rid ourselves of globalists, expel the communists, and overthrow the sick political class that hates our country,” he passionately declared.
Despite his legal challenges, Trump maintains his position as the frontrunner in the Republican presidential primary race for 2024. He assured Politico that even if convicted, he would never leave the political arena.
When asked about the possibility of pardoning himself, Trump dismissed it, stating, “I don’t think I’ll ever have to.” He adamantly declared his innocence, proclaiming, “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
Trump expressed his aversion to being indicted, acknowledging the surge in his popularity ratings but pleading not to be charged. He reflected on the frequency of accusations against him, attributing them to political motives.
The indictment was released in Miami following testimony before a federal grand jury, alleging that Trump unlawfully held sensitive documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate.
This indictment comes on the heels of a previous indictment in April by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, accusing Trump of falsifying company records. The new charges include intentional retention of national defense documents and conspiracy to obstruct justice.
During his speech, Trump vehemently denied any obstruction and introduced a nickname for the special prosecutor presenting the case, referring to him as “Deranged Jack Smith.”
Trump claimed that the multitude of charges had sprouted from a single allegation, insinuating that 36 accusations were fabricated.
He referred to Smith as the “thug in charge” and emphasized that the case was a politically motivated hit job orchestrated by a group in dire need of immediate purging.
More indictments are expected in the Georgia case related to allegations of election manipulation and the Washington, DC, case involving Trump’s actions during the January 6 Capitol riot.
Trump extensively discussed the Georgia investigation, which apparently revolves around his conversations with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in 2020 after the election loss.
Explaining his motive, Trump stated that he was lodging complaints to the appropriate authorities regarding an election he believed was rigged. He expressed concern, stating, “We are officially in communist China when you are not allowed to voice concerns about an election.”
On Saturday, Trump sent messages to his followers, using the prosecutions as fuel for his bid to secure the Republican nomination once again. In a fundraising email, he suggested that if he were to halt his campaign, all charges against him would magically disappear.
However, he claimed that turning his back on the country would be a betrayal, framing his upcoming arrest as a direct provocation against the United States.
While some Republicans criticized the indictment as a politically driven power grab, the absence of Governor Kemp from the stage revealed a divided Republican Party, especially concerning in the critical swing state of Georgia, which was nearly lost to Biden in 2020.
A poll conducted by Kemp’s Hardworking Americans PAC indicated that if pitted against Biden in a rematch, Trump would only secure 42% of probable Georgia voters’ support, six points below what a generic Republican candidate would receive (48%).
According to a pre-indictment statewide survey of 600 voters, if the presidential election were held at that moment, Trump would narrowly defeat Biden by 42% to 41%. However, any other Republican candidate would beat the incumbent with a margin of 48% to 38%.
The survey carried a margin of error of 4%.
Following his address in Georgia, Trump was scheduled to speak at the annual Republican convention in North Carolina.