Following former President Donald Trump’s indictment on Thursday, many of his challengers for the GOP primary have risen to his defense. Trump was indicted by a grand jury in Manhattan in connection to a hush money payment allegedly made on his behalf by his former fixer to an adult film star.
Many of both his announced and potential rivals have risen to Trump’s defense following the potential prosecution, claiming that the charges were politically motivated and did not actually relate to whether or not Trump had committed a crime.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was quick to support Trump, stating that his state’s officials would not assist in any possible extradition. He also called the indictment “un-American” and a “weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda.” He then attacked the Manhattan District attorney, stating that he was backed by Soros, and has consistently been allowed “to downgrade felonies and to excuse criminal misconduct” but is now altering the law so as to target a potential political opponent.
DeSantis has not yet announced his plans for the 2024 presidential election, but he is widely considered to be one of Trump’s biggest challengers for the GOP nomination.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who was the first major Republican to challenge Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination, also stated in a tweet that she believed this was “more about revenge than it is about justice.” Haley had served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration.
