Trump says investigations are ‘straight out of Stalinist Russia horror show’ in first campaign rally
Donald Trump has described the numerous investigations into his behaviour as “something straight out of the Stalinist Russia horror show”.
Mr Trump was speaking in Waco, Texas, at his first election rally on Saturday as he campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination.
He has a number of legal threats hanging over him, including allegations of campaign finance violations and of mishandling top-secret documents.
He said: “From the beginning it has been one witch-hunt and phony investigation after another.”
Mr Trump’s visit to Waco came 30 years after a raid by federal agents on the Branch Davidians religious cult.
Eighty-six people died that day, including four law enforcement officers.
A spokesperson for the Trump campaign said Waco was chosen because it sits between several major population centres and has the infrastructure to host a large event.
But critics would say that the choice was a nod to Mr Trump’s far-right supporters, many of whom see the raid as an example of government over-reach.
Mr Trump’s speech had many of his usual themes – he blamed immigrants for a number of the country’s problems, insisted he could return the US economy to its previous levels, promised to save his country from “World War Three”, and repeated his false claims that his election loss in 2020 was due to a fraud orchestrated by the Democrats.
He had opened the rally by playing a song – Justice For All – featuring a choir of men imprisoned for their role in the 6 January 2021 insurrection at the US Capitol singing the national anthem and a recording of himself reciting the Pledge Of Allegiance.
Footage from the insurrection was also shown on big screens.
Read more:
Donald Trump warns of ‘death and destruction’ if he is indicted on Stormy Daniels charges
How many investigations is Trump facing?
Analysis: The more Trump is portrayed as victim of injustice, the more his supporters rally around him
Mr Trump told the crowd that his enemies “are desperate to stop us”, and “our opponents have done everything they can to crush our spirit and to break our will”.
“But they failed,” he added.
“They’ve only made us stronger.
“And 2024 is the final battle.
“It’s going to be the big one.
“You put me back in the White House, their reign will be over and America will be a free nation once again.”
The 76-year-old claimed that some American politicians are a bigger threat to the US than China or Russia, and said that “demonic forces” are trying to destroy the country and that it risks falling into a “lawless abyss”.
“Either the deep state destroys America or we destroy the deep state,” he said.
Mr Trump faces tough competition for his party’s nomination, with a potential challenge from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
On Saturday, he tried to play down the chances of his possible rival, saying: “I’m not a big fan”, and “Florida has been tremendously successful for many years, long before this guy [DeSantis] became governor”.
Mr Trump is being investigated by prosecutors in Manhattan for campaign finance violations following his alleged payment of hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.
Last week he warned of possible “death and destruction” if he is indicted on the matter.
A special counsel is also investigating allegations that he hoarded top-secret documents and that he was behind a plot seeking to overturn the 2020 election.
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.
Read more from Sky News:
Kremlin urges caution in nuclear rhetoric following Trump’s submarine order
Still wanted: UK riots suspects pictured in new police appeal
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.
Read more from Sky News:
World champion sprinter arrested for ‘assaulting boyfriend’
Trump says “nobody has asked” him to pardon Maxwell
O’Neal is being held at the Polk County jail and his bond is yet to be determined.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Sports2 years agoButton battles heat exhaustion in NASCAR debut
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike