After a group of elected Republicans rallied behind former President Trump in New York to show support amid his ongoing criminal “hush money” trial on Monday, another wave of high-profile GOP supporters, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), joined the former president on Tuesday.
Accompanying Mr. Johnson in court alongside President Trump on Tuesday were two individuals rumored to be on the shortlist for President Trump’s 2024 vice presidential pick—Gov. Doug Burgum (R-N.D.) and former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy—along with Florida Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills. The GOP elected officials were spotted entering the courthouse with President Trump as he addressed the media before court resumed on Tuesday.
Tuesday’s presence of prominent members of President Trump’s entourage coincided with the second day of testimony by his former attorney-turned-opponent, Michael Cohen. Mr. Cohen’s testimony and upcoming cross-examination are anticipated to be pivotal aspects of the trial and crucial elements of President Trump’s defense strategy.
Mr. Johnson has recently stood alongside the former president to demonstrate his support, including a joint appearance at Mar-a-Lago where they announced new House legislation requiring proof of citizenship for voting.
During their meeting, President Trump also voiced his backing for the speaker, who was facing a potential ouster led by Trump ally Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
Most notably, President Trump endorsed the speaker as Ms. Greene pushed her motion to remove him earlier this month. President Trump emphasized that now was not the time for such a vote and expressed confidence in Mr. Johnson’s leadership. Tuesday’s joint appearance marks their first since the failed vote to oust him overwhelmingly.
Supporters of the former president on Monday included Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), also widely speculated to be on President Trump’s vice presidential shortlist, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), as well as the attorneys general for Iowa and Alabama.
In a social media post on Tuesday morning, Mr. Ramaswamy noted his pleasure in seeing President Trump in good spirits as they headed to court.
“This sham trial is a politically motivated assault on the leading candidate for U.S. President, greenlit by his political opponent, Joe Biden, and executed at the highest levels of the White House and Department of Justice,” Mr. Ramaswamy stated in his post. “Joe Biden’s former number #3 at the Department of Justice, Matthew Colangelo, is now spearheading the prosecution effort for Bragg, who himself ran for office promising to go after Trump. It’s an affront to American democracy.”
