As news emerged on Tuesday morning that former President Donald J. Trump was likely to face indictment in a third criminal case, the response from his rivals in the 2024 Republican primary was noticeably subdued. While he still had defenders, such as his top competitor in polls, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, who characterized him as a victim of political manipulation by the Justice Department, there was a subtle shift in tone. Some candidates seemed visibly fatigued by the constant need to address Trump’s legal troubles instead of discussing other important issues, while others remained silent.
Nikki Haley, who previously served as United Nations ambassador under Trump and is now running against him, displayed frustration during a Fox News interview when asked about the investigation into his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. She referred to it as a “distraction” from crucial matters such as foreign policy, border security, and the national debt.
“This primary election will continue to revolve around Trump: lawsuits, legal fees, judges, and it will only serve as a further and further distraction,” Ms. Haley remarked. “That’s why I am running – we need a new leader from a different generation. We can’t keep dealing with this drama.”
Notably, she did not repeat her previous statement made when Trump was indicted last month about the charges being evidence of “prosecutorial overreach, double standards, and vendetta politics.”
Governor Ron DeSantis, on the other hand, claimed that any indictment would be an attempt to criminalize political differences but also acknowledged that Trump should have taken a stronger stance to prevent his supporters from storming the Capitol on January 6.
Meanwhile, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina denounced what he referred to as the “weaponization” of the Department of Justice against political opponents but swiftly shifted focus to non-Trump-related examples when pressed further on the matter. He stated, “The voters will decide the next president of the United States.”
In contrast, certain candidates remained silent. Requests for comments from Mayor Francis Suarez of Miami and Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota went unanswered. Former Vice President Mike Pence’s spokesman disclosed that Pence had nothing to say on Tuesday morning but hinted that he may address the issue during upcoming television appearances.
However, one candidate who has consistently defended Trump, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, initially took a more moderate stance, stating that he would have made different judgments than Trump but emphasizing that bad judgment is not a crime. However, he later issued a conspiratorial statement, without substantiation, suggesting that the possible indictment was part of a plot to disqualify Trump from office under the 14th Amendment. Ramaswamy also claimed to have filed a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain evidence supporting his belief that President Biden instructed the Justice Department and special counsel to indict Trump. He concluded the statement by promoting an upcoming campaign event.
Three other lesser-known candidates who have positioned themselves as anti-Trump within the primary field reacted predictably. Former Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey declined to comment on the potential legal case until an indictment was released but criticized Trump’s actions on January 6, stating that they proved he doesn’t care about the country and the Constitution. Former Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas reiterated his call for Trump to suspend his campaign, affirming that Trump’s actions disqualify him from being president again. Former Representative Will Hurd of Texas was particularly critical, claiming that Trump’s unwillingness to accept defeat led to loss of life and stating that Trump’s inaction during the investigation demonstrates his unsuitability for office.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
