Calls for violence and a 'reckless' claim: The fallout from Trump's guilty verdict - MASHAHER

Donald Trump has become the first former United States president to be convicted in a criminal case.

A New York jury as part of a cover-up to hide ‘hush money’ payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, relating to a scheme to bury stories damaging to his 2016 election campaign.

Trump has pleaded not guilty and has consistently denied he had an affair in 2006 with Daniels, as she claims.

He was found guilty on all 34 counts. Here’s how the former president, his supporters, US President Joe Biden and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have responded to the decision.

How Trump supporters responded

Trump’s campaign said it had raised US$35 million ($52.5 million) from small donors after the verdict.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in the hours after Trump’s conviction reported that 10 per cent of Republican registered voters said they were less likely to vote for Trump following the conviction.

Thirty-five per cent said they were more likely to support Trump, and 56 per cent of registered voters polled said the case would not affect their vote.

Three in 10 Republican voters said they were more likely to support Trump following his conviction, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. Source: AAP / Anthony Behar/Sipa USA

A previous Reuters/Ipsos poll of registered voters conducted in April found one in four Republicans said they would not vote for Trump if he is found guilty in a criminal trial.

Calls for violence

According to a review by the Reuters news agency of comments on three Trump-aligned websites, including the former US president’s own Truth Social platform, there was a flurry of violent online posts shared by his supporters following the verdict.

Some called for attacks on jurors, the execution of the judge — Justice Juan Merchan — or outright civil war and armed insurrection.

Threats of violence and intimidating rhetoric soared after Trump lost the 2020 election and .

Plans to appeal

Speaking outside the court after the verdict, Trump said he had been subject to a “rigged trial” by a “corrupt” judge, without providing any evidence to back up those claims. He vowed to “keep fighting”.

In a 33-minute unscripted press conference at the Trump Tower in Manhattan following the verdict, the former US president confirmed he would appeal it.

“We’re going to be appealing it on many different things,” Trump said.

Trump also repeated the unsubstantiated claims the trial, brought by state and not federal prosecutors, was masterminded by the White House to influence this year’s election results.

Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg had previously said jurors made their decision “without fear or favour”, based on “the evidence and the law alone”.

Joe Biden calls Trump’s claims ‘reckless’

US President Joe Biden — who will — described Trump’s claim that his guilty verdict was rigged as “reckless”, “dangerous” and “irresponsible”.

“Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself. It was a state case, not a federal case. It was heard by a jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you,” Biden said, in his first public comments on Trump’s claims.

US President Joe Biden speaking into a microphone at a podium in front of a white wall and American flag.

Joe Biden called Trump’s accusations of rigging “dangerous”. Source: AAP / Michael Reynolds/Pool/EPA

“Like millions of Americans who served on juries, this jury is chosen the same way every jury in America is chosen. There’s a process, Donald Trump’s attorney was part of it. The jury heard five weeks of evidence, five weeks. After careful deliberation, the jury reached a unanimous verdict.

“Now he’ll be given the opportunity as he should, to appeal that decision just like everyone else has that opportunity. That’s how the American system of justice works.”

How has Australia reacted to the verdict?

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had a relatively neutral public reaction, telling reporters in Sydney on Friday that the government regards the verdict “as a matter for the United States and their system”.

“The relationship between Australia and the United States is a relationship between nations, not just between individuals,” he said.

Anthony Albanese wearing a dark blue jacket and blue shirt speaking outside.

Anthony Albanese called the verdict “a matter for the United States and their system” when asked about it by reporters. Source: AAP / Bianca De Marchi

“I wish the United States well, it’s an important relationship we have.”

What happens next?

Trump, who pleaded not guilty and has denied having sex with Daniels, faces a sentencing hearing on 11 July, after which he can appeal the verdict.

Any sentence — widely expected to be probationary, although a jail sentence is possible — is likely to be suspended until the result of that appeal, which will probably come after the November election.

— With additional reporting by Penry Buckley, Reuters and the Australian Associated Press.

Source Agencies