Trump Leaves Court and Curiously Tells Reporters, ‘I Was Forced to Be Here and I’m Glad I Was’
A tired-looking Donald Trump addressed courthouse reporters in a hoarse voice Thursday as he left his hush money trial, claiming, “I was forced to be here and I’m glad I was because it was a very interesting day, in a certain way.”
Trump had hoped to be in Washington, D.C., Thursday for the U.S. Supreme Court hearing on his presidential immunity claim, but Judge Juan Merchan wouldn’t grant permission.
“Your client is a criminal defendant,” the judge told Trump’s attorneys who put in the request. “He’s required to be here.”
Trump called Thursday’s testimony from former tabloid publisher David Pecker, “breathtaking.”
“Today was breathtaking, with this room, you saw what went on. It was breathtaking. And amazing testimony.”
Trump repeated his claim that the case should never have been brought. He talked about the stock market being “way down,” and inflation and gas prices being up. Trump also accused President Joe Biden of not handling the pro-Palestinian college protests properly, saying, “he has no idea how to message,” before inexplicably bringing up the 2017 “Unite the Right” march in Charlottesville that led to the murder of 32-year-old Heather Heyer.
“We’re having protests all over, he’s talking about Charlottesville. Charlottesville was a little peanut, and it was nothing compared, and the hate wasn’t the kind of hate you have here. This is tremendous hate,” Trump said.
He then turned his attention to the Supreme Court immunity hearing.
“And today, we had, I here, because I was forced to be here, and I’m glad I was because it was a very interesting day, in a certain way,” Trump continued:
But the U.S. Supreme Court had a monumental hearing on immunity, and immunity having to do with presidential immunity. And, I think it was made clear, I hope it was made clear, that a president has to have immunity, or you don’t have a president. Or, at most, you could say, would be a ceremonial president. That’s not what the Founders had in mind. They’re not talking about ceremonial. We want presidents that can get things done and bring people together. So, I heard the meeting was quite amazing, quite amazing, and the justices were on their game. So, let’s see how it all turns out.
Trump has cited presidential immunity from prosecution as a defense against several criminal indictments he’s facing.
Watch the clip above via Fox News.
New: The Mediaite One-Sheet Newsletter
Your daily summary and analysis of what the many, many media newsletters are saying and reporting. Subscribe now!
Comments
↓ Scroll down for comments ↓