According to Mediaite, former President Donald Trump, currently entangled in a fraud trial presided over by Judge Arthur Engoron, diverted attention from questions about his recent debate performance and controversial remarks about being a “dictator” to express his grievances about the trial outside the courtroom.
Trump, who has been a frequent presence during the proceedings of the fraud case brought forth by New York Attorney General Letitia James, took the opportunity to address reporters between court sessions. When questioned about candidates criticizing him in the previous night’s debate and his self-proclaimed “dictator” statement, Trump sidestepped the inquiries and launched into a tirade against the legal proceedings.
In response to a reporter’s question about governors taking shots at him, Trump dismissed the criticism, characterizing the case as an unprecedented “witch hunt.” He continued with a litany of familiar and disputed attacks on the trial, accusing the attorney general of being “crazy” and suggesting a biased judiciary. Trump alleged that the judge ruled against him before the case even commenced and criticized the judge’s refusal to acknowledge a previous victory at the appellate division.
As the questions persisted, Trump shifted the focus away from the debate and his controversial “dictator” statement, emphasizing his dissatisfaction with the legal process. The former president presented his arguments against the case, asserting that the attorney general was aware of a purportedly biased judge and accusing the judiciary of ignoring previous victories in his favor.
The reporters attempted to bring Trump back to the question about his “dictator” remark, but the former president skillfully navigated the conversation, maintaining the spotlight on his grievances with the ongoing fraud trial. Trump’s strategic redirection highlighted his determination to control the narrative surrounding the legal proceedings and reinforced his narrative of being unjustly targeted.
REPORTER: What’s your reaction to the governors taking shots at you yesterday? The president did well yesterday. What is your reaction to the governor?
DONALD TRUMP: Thank you very much. Everybody is. This is a witch hunt the likes of which probably nobody has ever seen
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And you have people being murdered outside all over the streets. They’re being murdered. This violent crime and this attorney general is crazy. She’s a lunatic. The attorney general. Sincere because she knows that she has a judge in the matter. All the evidence that you have, that judge is going to rule in their favor. He ruled against me before the case even started. The case had started. He knew nothing and he ruled against me.
The other thing is, this is an oral argument. I’m sure it was that was good for her case. And value of $18 million when in fact, it’s worth anywhere from 50 to 100 times that amount. Nobody’s ever seen anything like it. But just remember what I said at the beginning. We won at the appellate division and this judge refuses to honor that victory or that decision for that demand. Thank you very much.
REPORTER: Mr. Trump, why did you say you would be a dictator? Why did you say you’d be a dictator on day one? Can you explain that please? Can you explain that to the people?
