Donald Trump vowed on Saturday that he would “gladly” go to jail to defend his free speech rights, but he appeared to stop short of breaching a New York judge’s red line.
In the so-called New York hush money criminal case, Trump is subject to a limited gag order that forbids him from speaking out about anyone involved in the case, including witnesses, jurors, and prosecutors other than the judge.
The missives were nasty and personal, directed at presiding Judge Juan Merchan, Judge Arthur Engoron of the civil fraud case against Trump and his firm, and federal Judge Lewis Kaplan of the civil defamation action against Trump, but did not target witnesses or other court personnel.
“If this partisan hack wants to put me in the “clink” for speaking the open and obvious truth, I will gladly become a modern-day Nelson Mandela—it will be my great honor,” Trump said in the post.
Biden-Harris 2024 Jasmine Harris, Director of Black Media, slammed Trump’s comparison to the iconic South African civil rights champion on Saturday afternoon.
“Imagine being so self-centered that you compare yourself to Jesus Christ and Nelson Mandela all within the span of little more than a week—that’s Donald Trump for you,” Harris remarked in an email.
Trump’s comments come before fundraiser
The posts came only a few hours before a Saturday night fundraiser in Palm Beach at the home of hedge fund expert John Paulson, where the Trump campaign anticipated earning about $50 million.
The former president has long trailed President Joe Biden in fundraising as both men seek re-election to the White House.
According to an invitation, participants include super-wealthy figures such as Palm Beach County sugar billionaire Jose “Pepe” Fanjul and Palm Beach resident and former Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.
The invitation states that the admission price is $250,000, with a maximum contribution of $814,600. According to the Washington Post, this amount guarantees a seat at Trump’s table.
Biden-Harris 2024 reports first-quarter money haul
President Joe Biden’s campaign announced on Saturday that it had amassed over $187 million in donations during the first quarter of 2024, with a remarkable $90 million raised in the previous month alone.
According to a statement from campaign officials, the fundraising operation has been making history by consistently surpassing monthly grassroots fundraising records in the first three months of 2024. This remarkable achievement reflects the enthusiasm, strength, and the substantial resources that Team Biden-Harris possesses as they prepare for the upcoming general election. Notably, the first quarter fundraising total is almost double the unprecedented $97 million raised in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The statement further emphasized that while Trump was cultivating relationships with billionaires to secure campaign funding, the Biden-Harris team’s successful first-quarter fundraising was largely due to the unwavering support of grassroots contributors. This support has been steadily increasing month after month, highlighting the strength and dedication of their base.
