Fresh from his legal troubles in New York, Donald J. Trump gave a fiery and at times vulgar speech lasting about 75 minutes at a Republican National Committee donor retreat in Florida. During the event at his private club, Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Mr. Trump criticized a prosecutor pursuing him and likened President Biden’s administration to the Nazis.
“These people are running a Gestapo administration,” Mr. Trump told the donors, as recorded by The New York Times. “And it’s the only thing they have. And it’s the only way they’re going to win, in their opinion, and it’s actually killing them. But it doesn’t bother me.”
Before making the comparison, Mr. Trump baselessly claimed that the various charges against him and his associates in multiple states were orchestrated by the Biden administration.
He stated that he had shown more respect to Mr. Biden before his indictment, despite the results of the 2020 election. “You have to respect the office of the presidency,” Mr. Trump remarked. “And I never talk to him like this.”
Mr. Trump entered the event to the sound of the national anthem that he had recorded with individuals arrested in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. He praised the song.
Throughout his speech, Mr. Trump repeatedly complained about his ongoing trial in Manhattan, accused Democrats of using “welfare” to manipulate elections, and expressed the need for an attorney general with “courage.” He also delved into conspiracy theories surrounding his 2020 election loss.
Mr. Trump’s remarks regarding welfare to affluent donors at the event brought to mind a similar incident involving Mitt Romney during his 2012 presidential campaign. Mr. Trump suggested that Democrats start with a 40 percent advantage due to civil service, unions, and welfare, insinuating that they misuse welfare for votes and engage in cheating.
However, Mr. Trump primarily focused on his legal challenges, facing multiple indictments and criminal charges. He also acknowledged Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois, whose prison sentence was commuted by Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump also mocked the appearance of Jack Smith, the special counsel who has indicted him on two occasions. He praised House Speaker Mike Johnson and offered donors the opportunity to speak if they donated $1 million on the spot.
He attributed the slim margin in the House to the abortion issue, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Mr. Trump boasted of his fundraising success, highlighting the efforts of his campaign and party, projecting a positive outlook for the upcoming election.
His advisers presented a bullish case for Mr. Trump’s candidacy, suggesting the possibility of expanding the electoral map to include states like Minnesota and Virginia. They outlined strategies to secure support from various voter demographics.
Despite the controversies and legal battles, Mr. Trump’s team remains optimistic about his prospects in the upcoming election, emphasizing the need to focus on key issues and mobilize support across different segments of the electorate.
