‘Sad Day for America’: Donald Trump Speaks to the Press After Arraignment
© AP Photo / Manuel Balce Ceneta
Former President Donald Trump faced his third indictment today in Washington, D.C., relating to events that transpired on January 6, 2021. After his arraignment, Trump portrayed the charges as a political attack by the Biden administration.
Upon exiting the courthouse, Trump delivered a public statement, televised to the nation, in which he pled not guilty to federal allegations of conspiring to remain in power after the 2020 elections, as reported by Paula Bolyard from PJ Media.
High-profile Republicans including legal experts Mike Davis and Mark Levin have criticized the charges as fabricated and politically motivated, even branding them as “election interference.” The indictment coincided with the revelations from Devon Archer, Hunter Biden’s former business partner, implicating President Joe Biden in Hunter’s international financial dealings.
“It’s a grim day for America,” stated Trump, addressing the media under an umbrella. He expressed his dismay at the state of Washington, D.C., lamenting over the perceived decline in urban conditions, marked by deteriorated buildings and graffiti, during the tenure of the Biden administration and Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser.
Trump added, “It’s distressing to witness what’s happening. This is the pursuit of a political adversary, which is unprecedented in American history.” He implied that his high standing in opinion polls could be a factor in his indictment by the Biden-led Justice Department. “This is the pursuit of a candidate who’s significantly leading in the Republican primary, and also ahead of Biden,” he emphasized.
A poll conducted by New York Times/Siena College at the end of July placed Trump’s support at 54% among Republican primary voters, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis trailing at 17%. A June aggregate of national Republican primary polls by FiveThirtyEight showed Trump leading at 53.1% and DeSantis at 21.2%. On July 4, Newsweek reported that Trump held a considerable lead over Biden in swing states.
In his comments post-hearing, the former president asserted that his indictment amounted to election interference. “If you can’t defeat him, you harass him or prosecute him,” he concluded. “We can’t allow this to happen in America.”
Before heading to the hearing, Trump posted on Truth Social, “I AM NOW HEADING TO WASHINGTON, D.C., TO BE ARRESTED FOR QUESTIONING A CORRUPT, MANIPULATED, & HIJACKED ELECTION. IT IS A PROFOUND HONOR, AS I AM BEING ARRESTED FOR YOU. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
