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Donald Trump lashed out at his political opponents in an angry speech at a New Jersey fundraiser just hours after he pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges. 

In a speech that lasted just over half an hour on Tuesday night, he attacked a range of prominent public figures including Bill and Hillary Clinton, President Joe Biden and his family, and the prosecutor in the Miami legal case.

“Today, we witnessed the most evil and heinous abuse of power in the history of our country,” he opened.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., Tuesday, June 13, 2023, after pleading not guilty in a Miami courtroom earlier in the day to dozens of felony counts that he hoarded classified documents and refused government demands to give them back. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
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Donald Trump speaking

He claimed his indictment was “another attempt to rig and steal an election” that was “straight out of a fascist or communist nation”.

Trump is accused of unlawfully keeping classified security documents when he left office and lying to officials trying to recover them from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

The documents related to nuclear programmes and other sensitive military secrets.

Some of the 37 charges come under the Espionage Act with prison sentences of up to 20 years.

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He detailed some of his legal defence during the speech, claiming he had every right to keep the classified documents.

“They are threatening me with 400 years in prison for possessing my own presidential papers,” he claimed.

“Whatever documents the president decides to take with him, he has the right to do so – it is an absolute right.”

“They’ve got to drop this case immediately as it is destroying the country,” he said, adding that the case was a “sham”.

He touched on the classified documents previously found in Joe Biden’s possession and made other claims against his 2016 presidential rival Hillary Clinton.

“I’m the only one who followed the law,” he claimed.

“Joe Biden had no authority to declassify as vice president, I did as president. Nothing happens to crooked Joe.

“I did everything right and they indicted me.”

People react as former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks following his arraignment on classified document charges, at Trump National Golf Club, in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., June 13, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky
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Trump supporters in the crowd reacting to his speech

Towards the end of his speech, he repeated inflammatory claims on issues central to his election campaign.

He said he would strengthen border controls and end the war in Ukraine “in 24 hours”.

Trump also asserted he would appoint a special prosecutor “to go after” President Biden and his family.

The US is a “nation in serious decline,” Trump continued.

Read more: What investigations is Donald Trump facing?

“If the communists get away with this, it won’t stop there – [the] persecution of Christians, pro-life parents, future Republican candidates.”

“I will totally obliterate the deep state, we know who they are.

“I am the only one who can save this nation.

“Justice will be done, we will take back our country,” he finished.

The fiery speech in Bedminster, New Jersey came hours after he appeared in a Miami courtroom to face the federal charges.

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Trump: ‘I think it’s a rigged deal here’

US magistrate judge Jonathan Goodman allowed Trump to leave court without conditions or travel restrictions, and no bail was required.

Legal experts say it could be a year or more before a trial takes place.

Trump is currently the frontrunner in the race to become the Republican candidate for the 2024 presidential election.

His former aide and co-accused, Walt Nauta, did not enter a plea.

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Outside the courthouse, there were chaotic scenes with supporters and protestors clashing.

The former president also stopped at a Cuban bakery after the hearing, where local community leaders prayed with him in both English and Spanish.

Donald Trump at a cafe in Miami
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Donald Trump at the Cuban bakery in Miami

It was Trump’s second courtroom appearance in recent months.

In April, he pleaded not guilty to state charges in New York stemming from a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

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‘ANTI ICE’ engraved bullet found at scene of Dallas immigration centre shooting, FBI chief says

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'ANTI ICE' engraved bullet found at scene of Dallas immigration centre shooting, FBI chief says

Ammunition recovered from the scene of a shooting at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Dallas was engraved with the phrase ‘ANTI ICE’, the FBI has said.

It is being investigated as an act of “targeted violence”, the bureau added.

There are conflicting reports about injuries. The Department of Homeland Security said two detainees had been killed and another was in a critical condition.

Earlier, Dallas police said one person had died and four had been shot.

The attacker also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The suspect has not been identified.

One of the bullet casings was engraved with 'ANTI ICE'. Pic: Kash Patel/X
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One of the bullet casings was engraved with ‘ANTI ICE’. Pic: Kash Patel/X

The shooter opened fire on the office from an adjacent building at about 6.40am local time, officers said.

Dallas FBI Special Agent Joseph Rothrock said it was a “coordinated attack” and “just the most recent example we’ve seen of targeted violence”.

Early evidence suggested the incident was “anti-ICE in nature”, he added.

A recovered, unspent shell casing was engraved with the phrase “ANTI ICE”, said FBI director Kash Patel.

The shooting happened at an ICE field office in Dallas. Pic: Reuters
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The shooting happened at an ICE field office in Dallas. Pic: Reuters

Multiple rounds were fired just before 7am local time, Mr Patel said.

An initial review of evidence shows an “ideological motive behind this attack”, he added, describing the assault as “despicable”.

The “whole of government” will respond, Mr Rothrock said.

“There will be no resource not utilised to bring all those individuals who are responsible to justice and to hold them accountable.”

No police officers had been hurt, Mr Rothrock added.

Police near the ICE facility in Dallas. Pic: AP
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Police near the ICE facility in Dallas. Pic: AP

The victims were being led into the building to be processed and repatriated, Fox News reported, citing Dallas police Department sources.

Greg Abbott, the governor of Texas, said the shooting would “NOT slow our arrest, detention, and deportation of illegal immigrants”.

He added: “We will work with ICE and the Dallas Police Department to get to the bottom of the assassin’s motive.”

US Vice President JD Vance said: “The obsessive attack on law enforcement, particularly ICE, must stop.

“I’m praying for everyone hurt in this attack and for their families.”

No ICE agents were shot or hurt, Sky News’s US partner network NBC reported.

Despite the reports that no ICE agents were shot, US Attorney General Ken Paxton said: “We will continue to do everything in our power to combat the alarming increase of targeted attacks against ICE and all law enforcement by evil, twisted individuals.”

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Jimmy Kimmel addresses Charlie Kirk comments in first show since being taken off-air

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Jimmy Kimmel addresses Charlie Kirk comments in first show since being taken off-air

Jimmy Kimmel has said it was “never my intention to make light of” Charlie Kirk’s death.

The presenter appeared almost tearful as he opened his first show since being taken off-air last week over comments about the assassination of the conservative influencer.

“I don’t think there’s anything funny about it,” he said as he choked up.

“Nor was it my intention to blame any specific group for the actions of what was obviously a deeply disturbed individual. That was really the opposite of the point I was trying to make”.

Kimmel was accused of being “offensive and insensitive” after using his programme, Jimmy Kimmel Live, to accuse Donald Trump and his allies of capitalising on the killing.

Speaking on Tuesday night’s show, Kimmel said he understood why the remarks “felt either ill-timed or unclear, or maybe both”.

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Kimmel returns – and not everyone’s on same page

‘Not legal’ to take me off-air, says Kimmel

Appearing tearful again, Kimmel praised Kirk’s widow, Erika, for forgiving her husband’s killer at his memorial service, calling it a “selfless act of grace … that touched me deeply”. In contrast, Mr Trump has said he disagreed, telling the service: “I hate my opponent and I don’t want the best for them.”

Kimmel went on to criticise the ABC affiliates who took his show off the air, saying: “That’s not legal. That’s not American. It’s un-American.”

He also thanked those who supported him, adding: “It takes courage for them to speak out against this administration. They did and they deserve credit for it.”

Disney announced the return of the show to its ABC network after backlash to his suspension, although two major operators said they still wouldn’t show it.

Read more from Sky News:
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Jimmy Kimmel's show returned after less than a week off-air. Pic: Reuters
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Jimmy Kimmel’s show returned after less than a week off-air. Pic: Reuters

Trump threatens further action

In a post on his Truth Social platform before it aired on Tuesday night, Mr Trump said he “can’t believe” ABC gave Kimmel his show back and hinted at further action.

“Why would they want someone back who does so poorly, who’s not funny, and who puts the Network in jeopardy by playing 99% positive Democrat GARBAGE,” he wrote.

“He is yet another arm of the DNC and, to the best of my knowledge, that would be a major illegal Campaign Contribution. I think we’re going to test ABC out on this.”

In his opening monologue, Kimmel mocked Mr Trump for criticising him for bad ratings, saying: “He tried his best to cancel me and instead he forced millions of people to watch this show.”

Mr Trump had welcomed Kimmel’s suspension, saying he had “bad ratings”, but the move was criticised by Hollywood stars and senior Democrats including Barack Obama.

What did Kimmel say about Charlie Kirk?

The comments that saw Kimmel taken off-air were made last week.

The TV presenter said: “We hit some new lows over the weekend with the MAGA gang desperately trying to characterise this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them and doing everything they can to score political points from it.”

Speaking about Mr Trump, he added: “This is not how an adult grieves the murder of someone he calls a friend.

“This is how a four-year-old mourns a goldfish.”

“Many in MAGA land are working very hard to capitalise on the murder of Charlie Kirk,” he continued.

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Trump disparages Russian military – and backs Ukraine to retake all lost territory

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Zelenskyy's UN speech was a warning and a plea - as he knows Trump can turn on a dime

US President Donald Trump has said he believes Ukraine could retake all its occupied territory and described Russia as a “paper tiger”.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Sky News correspondent Mark Stone it was a “big shift” from his US counterpart.

Mr Trump, speaking to French President Emmanuel Macron at the United Nations in New York, said his relationship with Vladimir Putin had turned out to be meaningless.

Read more: Why emboldened Trump has changed his stance on Ukraine

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations. Pic: Reuters
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Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations. Pic: Reuters

Writing on Truth Social, the US president said: “I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and WIN all of Ukraine back in its original form.

“With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original Borders from where this War started, is very much an option.”

Mr Trump wrote that he had gained a greater understanding of the “economic trouble” the war was causing Moscow.

He said Russia had been “fighting aimlessly” for three-and-a-half years and had it been a “real military power” it would have defeated Ukraine in less than a week.

Mr Trump added: “This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like ‘a paper tiger’.”

Mr Trump’s tone contrasted greatly with his red-carpet treatment for the Russian president at a summit in Alaska last month, part of a push to expedite an end to the war in Ukraine.

The US president has previously suggested Ukraine would never be able to reclaim all the territory Russia has occupied since seizing the Crimean Peninsula in 2014.

Mr Zelenskyy later said he was surprised by Mr Trump’s comments, telling Fox News’ Special Report he has a better relationship with the US president than before.

He said the comments were a very positive signal Mr Trump and the US will be with Ukraine until the end of the war.

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Rigby to Trump: Was Putin’s Alaska invite a mistake?

Earlier on Tuesday, while talking to Mr Zelenskyy at the United Nations, Mr Trump was asked by reporters whether he thought NATO should shoot down Russian planes if they entered NATO airspace.

“Yes, I do,” Mr Trump replied.

Asked whether the US would support NATO in shooting down Russian aircraft, Mr Trump said it depended on the circumstances.

On Truth Social, he said the US would continue to supply weapons to NATO and it was for the military alliance to “do what they want with them”.

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Trump attacks UN and London mayor

Ukraine, he said, with the “support of the European Union”, is in a position to “fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form”.

Kyiv would need the “financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO”, he said.

But, given those caveats, he said the “original borders from where this war started is very much an option”.

In a joint statement following the president’s comments, G7 foreign ministers said discussions were ongoing about additional economic sanctions on Russia.

Read more:
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Trump makes full-throttle assault on UN | Analysis
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Mr Trump also suggested the Russian people are not aware of “what is really going on with this war”.

He added: “Most of their money is being spent on fighting Ukraine. Putin and Russia are in big economic trouble and this is the time for Ukraine to act.”

Ukraine has lost large areas of land in the east of the country. In the Donetsk region, Russia now controls about 70% of the territory. Kyiv’s forces have been pushed back to a string of four cities analysts have dubbed the “fortress belt”.

Moscow has partly annexed three other regions, too: Luhansk in the east, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson further west.

The situation in Ukraine on 19 September
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The situation in Ukraine on 19 September

Meanwhile, Russia appears to be provoking its neighbours to the west. Last week, Estonia said three Russian MiG-31 fighter jets violated its airspace for 12 minutes before Italian NATO jets escorted them away.

The week before, about 20 Russian drones entered Polish airspace, prompting NATO jets to shoot some of them down.

NATO has now beefed up its defence of Europe’s eastern flank.

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