Donald Trump: Former president lashes out at opponents in angry speech hours after Miami court appearance
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.
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.
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.”
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 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.
Donald Trump has waded into the debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney’s jeans ad.
The American Eagle ad, which features the 27-year-old actress, who starred in the HBO series Euphoria and White Lotus, has the tagline “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans”.
It has sparked a debate in the US over race and Western beauty standards.
One of the Sydney Sweeney jeans ads. Pic: AP
In a Truth Social post, the US president described it as the “hottest ad out there”.
Hailing Sweeney as a “registered Republican”, he said the jeans are “flying off the shelves”, adding: “Go get ’em Sydney!”
Most of the criticism of the ad has centred on videos using the word “genes” instead of “jeans”, with one in which Sweeney says: “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour, personality and even eye colour. My jeans are blue.”
Critics argued the play on words potentially promotes eugenics, a discredited theory that believed humanity could be improved through the selective breeding of certain traits.
But others have defended the ad, saying the critics are reading too much into its message.
The video appeared on American Eagle’s Facebook page and other social media channels, but is not part of the ad campaign.
In a statement on Instagram on Friday, American Eagle Outfitters said the campaign “is and always was about the jeans. Her jeans. Her story. We’ll continue to celebrate how everyone wears their AE jeans with confidence, their way. Great jeans look good on everyone.”
Stocks in American Eagle Outfitters jumped by 23.3% after Mr Trump’s intervention.
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In his Truth Social post, which he reposted three times to fix various typos, Mr Trump compared the ad with “woke” ones “on the other side of the ledger” – as he criticised other companies, as well as hitting out at Taylor Swift.
“The tide has seriously turned – Being WOKE is for losers, being Republican is what you want to be,” he wrote.
Sky News has contacted Sweeney’s agent for comment.
Police in Tennessee have discovered 14 improvised explosive devices in a man’s home as they were arresting him, the local sheriff’s office said.
Officers were executing a warrant in the home of Kevin Wade O’Neal in Old Fort, about 45 miles (70km) east of Chattanooga, after he had threatened to kill public officials and law enforcement personnel in Polk County.
After arresting the 54-year-old, officers noticed “something smouldering” in the bedroom where he was found.
Kevin Wade O’Neal. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
On closer inspection, they discovered an improvised explosive device and evacuated the house until bomb squad officers arrived at the scene.
Fourteen devices were found inside the property – none of which detonated.
Improvised explosive devices were found in Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
Kevin Wade O’Neal’s home in Old Fort, Tennessee. Pic: Polk County Sheriff’s Office
O’Neal was charged with 11 counts of attempted first-degree murder, corresponding to nine officers and two other people inside the property when the suspect tried to detonate the devices.
He also faces 14 counts of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of explosive components.
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O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
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