Former President Donald Trump, despite being confined to a courtroom for his New York hush money trial on most weekdays, is actively adjusting his schedule and message to enhance his chances of returning to the White House.
On Tuesday evening, towards the end of the second day of jury selection in his trial, Trump paid a visit to a bodega in Harlem. This bodega had been the site of a tragic and deadly stabbing two years ago. During his visit, Trump seized the opportunity to express his concerns about the alleged failures of the Democratic party in ensuring public safety.
In a direct statement, Trump specifically targeted the Manhattan district attorney, emphasizing his recurring claims that Democrats exhibit leniency towards criminal activity. He further contends that the charges against him are driven by political bias, a notion dismissed by prosecutors who assert their adherence to legal protocols. Trump vehemently denies any involvement in wrongdoing.
Blaming Alvin Bragg, he pointed out at the bodega, “It’s all his fault. He doesn’t take any action. Instead, he targets individuals like Trump, who haven’t done anything wrong. Meanwhile, there are countless violent criminals, including murderers, roaming freely all across the city.”
During his break from court, he took the opportunity to criticize Bragg and his ongoing criminal trial, one of four he is currently facing. He also reiterated his familiar rhetoric about “crime-ridden” cities, which he often associates with Democratic leadership. One such city he mentioned was New York, his hometown, where he gained prominence before relocating to Florida.
In his criticism of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who is currently prosecuting him in Georgia for his attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat in the state, he has also made similar allegations regarding crime in Atlanta.
During his visit to Harlem on Tuesday, Trump went to a shop that had a tragic incident in 2022. The store’s former clerk, Jose Alba, fatally stabbed someone who was allegedly attacking him. Alba claimed that he acted in self-defense.
The surveillance camera footage captured the moment when Austin Simon confronted Alba behind the cash register and forcefully pushed him, leading to a physical altercation between the two individuals.
Alba faced an initial charge of murder, which sparked controversy. However, Bragg’s office ultimately decided to drop the case against Alba, citing insufficient evidence to proceed.
According to New York City police statistics, violent crime in the city has been steadily declining, despite Trump’s rhetoric about crime.
According to the data, homicides have decreased by 19% compared to the same period in 2023. It is worth noting that there was a significant surge of 30% in homicides in 2020, during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Crime and public safety play a significant role in Trump’s campaign strategy, as he appeals to voters by highlighting these issues. Additionally, he criticizes President Joe Biden for the rising inflation rates and the immigration situation.
As his first criminal trial commences, the former president has expressed frustration at how his court obligations are affecting his campaign schedule. Despite this, he remains determined to campaign extensively during the weekends, holding rallies in various locations.
The Biden campaign has refrained from making direct comments on the trial. However, they have subtly criticized the proceedings through press releases and have chosen to highlight the president’s active campaigning in key battleground states like Pennsylvania this week, in contrast to Trump’s presence in court.
During his own campaign event on Tuesday, Biden criticized Trump for his previous endorsement of tax cuts for the wealthy, stating that Trump represents the shortcomings of trickle-down economics.
According to Biden’s team, his campaign has been actively engaged in swing states even before the commencement of Trump’s trial.
“This trial should have never been brought,” Trump told reporters as he made his way back to court on Tuesday. He expressed frustration at the situation, saying, “I should be right now in Pennsylvania, in Florida, in many other states — North Carolina, Georgia — campaigning.” Despite the setback, Trump recognized the media attention surrounding the trial and used it to his advantage.
During a press conference at the Harlem bodega on Tuesday, Trump once again voiced his unfounded criticism that his absence from the campaign trail is considered “election interference”.
In New York, he is confronting 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. These charges are related to the money he paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. The purpose of these payments was to prevent Daniels from publicly discussing an alleged sexual encounter with him, an accusation that he vehemently denies. Currently, he has entered a plea of not guilty.
During the ongoing jury selection process, Trump expressed his preference for jurors who possess fairness and impartiality. According to him, anyone who fits this criteria would be an ideal candidate.
When asked about his thoughts on the seven jurors that have been selected thus far, he replied, “I’ll be able to give you my opinion in approximately two months.”
When asked if he believes the seated jurors are fair, he deflected the question, asserting that there should not even be a jury in the first place.
According to Trump, he denies violating the limited gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan. The prosecution argued that Trump did violate the order by posting social media attacks on Daniels and his former attorney Michael Cohen, who are potential key witnesses.
Trump criticized the gag order, stating that it is “unconstitutional” and should not be in place.
During his stop at the bodega, he was questioned about the recent attempts made by two GOP hard-line lawmakers to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson from his position due to his stance on voting for foreign aid.
“We’ll have to wait and see how that turns out,” commented Trump. “In my opinion, he’s a really great individual.”
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