On Saturday, Trump wrote on the Truth social platform and dared to throw Marchan in jail. He also again compared himself to Nelson Mandela, the political prisoner who became the first president of post-apartheid South Africa.
“If this partisan hack wants me to be ‘condemned’ by speaking the obvious truth openly, I would gladly become a modern-day Nelson Mandela. That would be my great honor,” Trump said. wrote. “We must save this country from political operatives masquerading as prosecutors and judges, and I am willing to sacrifice my freedom for that worthy cause.”
Trump has continued to test the boundaries of the gag order, persistently sharing links to Truth Social articles that echo his criticisms. In a post on Truth Social written after the gag order was expanded, President Trump said Marchand “should be dismissed and the case should be thrown out” and added, “There is no more contradictory factual person than this judge.” There is no judge,” he added.
A recent Washington Post analysis of Mr. Trump’s social media posts since the start of his campaign in late 2022 found that he had directly attacked judges and their families by name more than 130 times. Mr. Marchand’s gag order does not restrict Mr. Trump from directly attacking judges or district attorneys.
It is unclear whether a judge will impose sanctions on President Trump for his recent posts. Marchan could fine or jail Trump for violating the gag order. He also said Trump’s lawyers’ withholding the names of jurors could have another effect.
Orders restricting public statements by criminal defendants are common in judicial proceedings. Trump was previously sentenced to a fine for violating another judge’s gag order in a civil business fraud case in New York, resulting in a $350 million fine plus interest.
The Trump campaign said Saturday that Marchand’s gag order was “unconstitutional and un-American” in defending his actions. “President Trump has not violated the unjust edicts issued by partisan operatives and will continue to speak truth to power,” Trump campaign spokesman Stephen Chan said in a statement.
The trial, which Marchand is scheduled to oversee this month, will involve Trump allegedly falsifying business records related to hush money payments he made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election. The case stems from the indictment of Mr.
Trump, who is considered the Republican presidential nominee, faces 88 charges in four criminal cases. They include 44 federal charges and 44 state charges, all of which are felonies. President Trump has denied any wrongdoing on his part in either incident.
This is not the first time Trump has compared himself to Mandela to portray himself as a victim of political persecution. In October 2023, he told a crowd: “I don’t mind being Nelson Mandela. I’m doing it for a reason.”
The Biden campaign quickly criticized President Trump, comparing him to Nobel Peace Prize winner Mandela.
“Imagine someone so self-centered that they compare themselves to Jesus Christ and Nelson Mandela in less than a week,” Jasmine Harris, the Biden campaign’s head of black media, said in a statement. .That’s Donald Trump for you.” .
Harris appeared to be referring to another recent Truth Social post that Trump made while attending a pretrial hearing in a hush-money case just days before Easter-related events. He seemed to be comparing himself to Jesus.
President Trump wrote that someone sent him a message with a Bible verse that said, “It’s ironic that Christ experienced his greatest persecution in the very week they were trying to steal your property.”
