(New York) United States President Joe Biden on Friday castigated the “irresponsible” remarks of his rival Donald Trump against his trial where he was found guilty, a “scam” according to the former head of state who aspires to become him again.
The campaign for the November 5 presidential election between the Democratic president and his Republican predecessor has been plunged into uncertainty since a Manhattan court jury found Thursday that the billionaire had been “guilty” of accounting falsifications.
Never before has a former American president been convicted criminally.
From his Trump Tower skyscraper in Manhattan, Donald Trump on Friday described this trial as “very unfair”, even rigged, but without providing the slightest proof, and promised to “appeal this scam” once the sentence has been pronounced. on July 11.
In a disjointed speech lasting more than half an hour, the 77-year-old New York businessman, who in a decade has turned American democracy upside down, also accused his 81-year-old successor, who beat him in 2020, and his “gang”, of being “sick” and “fascists” responsible for his legal setbacks.
“It’s inconsiderate, it’s dangerous, it’s irresponsible for anyone to say that (this trial) was rigged simply because they don’t like the verdict,” declared the current tenant of the House- Blanche, candidate for re-election.
Trump “threatens democracy”
In his speech, without taking the slightest question from the press, Donald Trump appeared “confused, desperate […] This man cannot be president of the United States,” said a Biden campaign official in a statement.
On X the president himself hit the nail on the head: his predecessor “threatens democracy”.
“He first questioned our electoral system. Then, he questioned our judicial system,” it is written on Joe Biden’s X account.
As soon as Thursday’s shock announcement of the guilty verdict for accounting falsification of payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump made it a campaign argument.
“I am a political prisoner,” he proclaims in an appeal for donations.
He collected $34.8 million in donations in a few hours, according to his campaign, “almost double the largest day ever recorded” on the platform.
“Verdict on November 5”
“The real verdict will take place on November 5, by the American people,” Donald Trump also assured as he left the courtroom on Thursday, grimacing.
Some populist far-right leaders have shown their support for Donald Trump, such as Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini who denounced “judicial harassment” and a “political trial”.
Russia, whose relations with the United States are at their lowest, through Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov, denounced an “elimination of political adversaries” in America.
PHOTO ANDREW KELLY, REUTERS
Anti-Trump protesters hold signs the day after Donald Trump’s guilty verdict.
The head of American diplomacy Antony Blinken responded from Prague that these accusations from Moscow were only a “reflection” of Russia’s own behavior in this matter.
Historical
Even if Donald Trump’s guilty verdict is historic, he will be able to compete in the presidential election and the impact on the vote remains difficult to predict.
Polls show the two adversaries neck and neck, with the Democrat trailing behind in certain strategic states.
PHOTOS ARCHIVED ASSOCIATED PRESS
Joe Biden and Donald Trump
And this verdict “is probably not going to move many votes,” predicts Keith Gaddie, political scientist at Texas Christian University (TCU). But for votes “particularly close, this could swing things from one side to the other”.
The fact remains that Donald Trump has shown incredible resistance to the ordeals that would have destroyed the political careers of many others: twice indicted before Congress and indicted in four criminal cases, including that of New York, he is widely and quickly imposed in the Republican primaries.
And the Stormy Daniels case, considered the least threatening for him, will most likely be the only one judged before the vote.
Deprived of a campaign on the ground to attend the hearings, Donald Trump still tried to take advantage of the media by speaking several times a day outside the courtroom, flanked by his children or elected officials. Republicans came to support him.
But this judicial sequence could also benefit Joe Biden, who intends to strengthen his image as a serious leader, busy with the highest affairs of the State while his rival continues the legal meetings.