Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels in the lead up to the 2016 presidential election. Reacting to the verdict, his Republican presidential primary opponents had various responses. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott blasted the charges as a “hoax” and a “sham,” criticizing the justice system. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum called the verdict a “travesty of justice,” pointing out the political biases of the judge and prosecutors. Former Vice President Mike Pence viewed the conviction as an “outrage and disservice to the nation,” undermining confidence in the justice system. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis criticized the case as a political maneuver to target Trump, questioning the application of the rule of law in an even-handed manner.
Conservative commentator Larry Elder, businessperson Perry Johnson, and others also expressed outrage over the guilty verdict, calling it a political maneuver by the Biden administration to silence and eliminate political rivals. They saw the trial as an example of the weaponization of the justice system and vowed that Trump would appeal and win the case. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Trump critic, called for the verdict to be respected despite his personal opinions on Trump. Meanwhile, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, and former Texas Rep. Will Hurd remained silent on the matter following the verdict.
The reactions from Trump’s Republican primary opponents varied from criticizing the justice system for pursuing charges against him to calling for respect for the jury’s verdict. South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott condemned the trial as a political hoax and an injustice, while former Vice President Mike Pence considered the conviction an outrage and disservice to the nation. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and businessperson Perry Johnson criticized the trial as a travesty of justice and a political maneuver by the Biden administration. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis questioned the political bias in the case, highlighting the debasement of the justice system in New York City.
Conservative commentators and businesspersons also expressed outrage over the guilty verdict, viewing it as a political attempt to silence and eliminate political rivals. They criticized the weaponization of the justice system by the Biden administration and vowed that Trump would appeal and win the case. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, despite his criticism of Trump, called for the verdict to be respected. Meanwhile, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, and former Texas Rep. Will Hurd remained silent on the matter following the verdict.
The reactions to Trump’s guilty verdict in his New York City trial highlighted the polarized views within the Republican Party. While some critics saw the conviction as a travesty of justice and a political maneuver by the Biden administration, others called for respect for the legal process and the jury’s decision. The responses reflected ongoing tensions within the party over issues of justice, political bias, and the rule of law. As Trump prepares to appeal the verdict, the fallout from his trial is likely to continue to shape political discourse and divisions within the Republican Party leading up to the 2024 presidential election campaign.
