He was thus found guilty on all charges. “It was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict will be on November 5th, by the people. They know what happened, and everyone knows what happened,” declared Donald Trump upon leaving the courtroom last Thursday. The next day, he held a press conference at Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York: “This is a case where, if they can do this to me, they can do it to anyone. There’s never been a judge with such a conflict of interest. This is all orchestrated by Biden and his people.” Adding: “We are living in a fascist state.”
Outside, a small crowd had gathered to protest. Among them was Igor Mala, sporting a boater hat with a paper reading “Trump 2024” pasted on it, exclaiming: “This is a Stalinist trial. Show me the victim, I’ll find you a crime. There is no justice. I fled the Soviet Union in 1976, I know what this is.” Igor Mala had voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, and he promised to vote for him “in 2024 and beyond” – even though the Constitution limits presidential terms to two. “He is one of us, he speaks the truth, people understand that he isn’t a real politician.”
Next to him stood Alex Pérez, holding a sign that read “Will you fight for our children’s sovereignty?” Indignantly, he stated: “I support President Trump. He is being persecuted; this is electoral interference. If the Democrats want to win, they should do it fairly.” Alex Pérez insisted that the actions against Trump were politically motivated and aimed at influencing the outcome of the upcoming elections.
The tension among the president’s supporters was palpable, as they viewed the trial as a direct attack on their beliefs and choices. They accused the judicial system of being used for political purposes and called for massive mobilization during the next election. For many, Trump embodied a voice of truth and authenticity in a political landscape they deemed corrupt and manipulated.
