Neither “crimes” nor “misdemeanors”: Faced with indictment, Donald Trump asserted Saturday at his first presidential campaign rally, held in an iconic location, the Texas city of Waco, scene of his deadly attack on a cult 30 years ago, which is against federal power.
• Also read: Trump rally in Waco, former stronghold of an anti-Federal cult
The former US President has been threatening the porn actress Stormy Daniels with imminent arrest in a payout procedure for more than a week in New York shortly before her 2016 election victory.
The judiciary is trying to determine whether Mr Trump is guilty of misrepresentation, a felony, or violating campaign finance laws, a felony, by paying money to the pornographic actress.
“The New York District Attorney, under the auspices and direction of the +Ministry of Injustice+ in Washington DC, has investigated me for something that is neither a felony nor a misdemeanor nor an affair,” he said – he confirmed in front of thousands of supporters gathered under the texas sun
The city of Waco, population 130,000, remains associated with the anti-government Davidian sect.
In the spring of 1993, the world was suspended for 51 days by the FBI’s siege of a ranch where armed supporters of guru David Koresh were holed up. 76 members of the sect, including 20 children, were found dead after the ranch fire. Four police officers were also killed.
Donald Trump’s campaign team did not respond to inquiries from AFP about Waco’s choice for the meeting.
The former president, who is also under investigation into his lobbying work in the 2020 Georgia election and the handling of classified White House records, regularly poses as a victim of a mysterious “shadow state.”
The spectacular FBI search of his Florida home? “A Shocking Abuse of Power”. The two congressional impeachments he faced? “A Witch Hunt”.
small dance steps
By returning to his base at a meeting in Waco, Donald Trump is also reconnecting with an exercise he loves. The scenes in which the former president sketches small dance steps or throws his famous red hats into the crowd have become cult among his supporters.
In the Texas city, some of his fans stamped impatiently on Friday night, visibly unconcerned about their idol’s legal troubles.
“Everything is distorted to give him a bad image,” Kelly Heath, 49, told AFP, describing it as an attempt to “silence him.”
On Saturday before the meeting near Waco Airport, a 72-year-old retiree, Louis, was accompanied by his 16-year-old grandson, who he says is a “great admirer” of Trump despite not being old enough As for the vote, he says that “all presidents had mistresses. Why not him?
For her part, Julie, who hails from the town of Tyler, Texas, affirms that the Stormy Daniels case “is not a big deal. She came out of nowhere to see how much money she could get” from Donald Trump.
“These are lies. He’s the boss and he’s going to save America,” adds Sherry, 55.
Many stalls sell the full range of Trump branding, from “Trump 2024” and “Trump Girl” caps to a white shirt with the slogan “God, guns, Trump in Waco, Texas.”
A sign asserts that “the democrats are communists”.
Most importantly, this meeting offers the Republican an opportunity to breathe new life into his campaign, which is not enjoying the momentum he had hoped for, even though most polls are calling him a primary winner.
The billionaire, who against all odds continues to conjure up alleged “scams” that were never proven in the 2020 election, has also seen a segment of the right – and particularly his wealthy donors – turn to the right’s new champion, Ron DeSantis . 44
Florida’s governor is yet to officially run, but will undoubtedly be one of his closest rivals for the 2024 Republican nomination.