Amid concerns of political violence over his guilty verdict, former US President Donald Trump has said a prison term could be a “breaking point” for his supporters.
Trump was on Thursday convicted in the hush money case on all 34 counts. He is the President of the United States, sitting or former, to be a convicted felon.
While experts have said that Trump may escape a prison term, he potentially faces four years in jail for each of the counts he has been convicted for. On his part, Trump has denounced the verdict and has slammed the judge as corrupt and has phrased the trial as part of a grand conspiracy against him.
Following the verdict, the fiery rhetoric by Trump’s allies and supporters have sparked concerns that there could be political violence in the run up to US presidential election in November.
Trump warns of public anger over prison term
Trump has said that he cannot say how the public would react if he is imprisoned.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said, “I’m ok with it, not sure the public would stand for it.”
Trump further said, “I think it would be tough for the public to take. You know at a certain point there’s a breaking point.”
Trump went on to term the trial against him as a “scam” and that his opponents had “weaponised” the justice system to keep him away from the White House.
Fears of political violence over Trump’s guilty verdict
Supporters of Trump have posted calls for “riots, revolution, and violent retribution” on websites supportive of him since the verdict, according to Reuters.
Such statements have been posted on Truth Social platform, Patriots.Win, and the Gateway Pundit, according to a report.
The report said that some Trump supporters called for jurors, the execution of the judge, and even an outright civil war or armed insurrection.
On their parts, lawmakers from both the parties have also raised the fears of political violence, according to Axios.
Representative Steve Cohen of the Democratic Party told Axios that Trump’s comments against the verdict “could incite violence” and he urged his supporters to “not allow his disgraceful comments to move them to disgraceful conduct”.
In a rare statement from a Republican, Larry Hogan, the Republican Senate candidate for Maryland, urged “all Americans to respect the verdict”.
“At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders —regardless of party — must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship,” said Hogan.
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