Trump’s ‘final battle’ is launched in Waco
Faithful flocking from far and wide
“Every president has had their mistress, you know?” said 72-year-old Louis, as he waited to enter Donald Trump’s first big rally of his 2024 campaign, in Texas. “So why not him?” Louis and his grandson were among the thousands of supporters, along with the usual vendors hawking “Make America Great Again” caps and “Trump 2024” flags, who have gathered at an airport in the city of Waco — the site of a siege 30 years ago that ended with more than 80 dead.
One attendee at the rally, 54-year-old Michele, says she does not believe Trump will be arrested, because “that is just not even a smart move... and they know that.”
The potential charges just “political theater” and a distraction from “what’s going on with the banking system which is crumbling before everybody’s eyes,” she said, referring to the recent collapse of multiple US lenders.
“He’s going to get arrested for what? A misdemeanor? It is totally okay to pay someone to be quiet,” she added.
Zach, an 18-year-old Waco resident, also believes the media attention on the potential charges are a distraction from the high inflation under President Joe Biden, whose support of Ukraine, in his view, is inflaming geopolitical tensions.
The payment Trump made to the porn star, Stormy Daniels, was “not through his campaign money... he did with his personal money,” Zach said.
Julie, who drove over two hours from the Texas city of Tyler, said that the “Stormy Daniels situation is not a big one.” “She just came out of nowhere, (and) decided to see how much money she could get from him,” added Julie, sporting a cowboy hat with “Trump” on it.
Outside the airport, the parking lot was already full of cars which arrived well before the doors opened.
Waco: Donald Trump has painted next year’s presidential election as America’s “final battle” in a dark and vitriolic speech ahead of his imminent arrest over hush money paid to a porn star.
Appearing in Waco, Texas for his first 2024 campaign rally, the former US president claimed the case against him was “bulls--t” pursued by “absolute human scum” prosecutors.
While he did not repeat his social media threat of “death and destruction” if he was indicted – which would be the first time in history a president has faced criminal charges – Mr Trump urged his supporters to “destroy” what he said were “deep state” forces trying to stop him.
The former president also repeated his lies about his 2020 election defeat and promised “retribution” for the January 6 rioters who he claimed were being treated “like terrorists” while locked up in a “hellhole” prison for the US Capitol invasion.
“2024 is the final battle – that’s going to be the big one,” Mr Trump said.
“When this election is over, I will be the president of the United States. You will be vindicated and proud, and the thugs and criminals who are corrupting our justice system will be defeated, discredited and totally disgraced.
“If we don’t win this next election, 2024, I truly believe our country is doomed.”
A week ago, Mr Trump predicted his imminent arrest in New York over $US130,000 paid to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election to silence her claim that they slept together.
He said at the rally that the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office was “investigating me for something that is not a crime, not a misdemeanour, not an affair”. Referring to Ms Daniels, Mr Trump added: “I never liked ‘horse face’ … that wouldn’t be the one. There is no one – we have a great first lady.”
He spent the majority of his 90-minute speech attacking what he said were “menacing forces and vicious opponents”, as he claimed the “weaponisation” of the justice system was a bigger danger than Russia or China. “Justice will only be done when we have thrown this repulsive political class the hell out of office,” Mr Trump said.
“I am your warrior, I am your justice. For those who have been wronged and betrayed … I am your retribution. Either the deep state destroys America or we destroy the deep state.”
Ron DeSantis – who is likely to challenge him for the Republican nomination – was also in Mr Trump’s sights as he attacked his pandemic policies, accused him of trying to “obliterate” Medicare and imitated him begging him for an endorsement when he first ran to lead Florida.
Mr Trump claimed only he could “prevent World War III”, end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours and hold China responsible for the Covid pandemic.
The choice of Waco for the rally drew widespread criticism as the city was marking 30 years since law enforcement attempted to raid a religious cult’s compound, sparking a 51-day siege in which 86 people died including four federal agents.
Mr Trump’s niece Mary accused him of trying to remind his supporters of how “an anti-government cult battled the FBI” to stir up “the same violent chaos to rescue him from justice”. But his campaign spokesman argued Waco was chosen because it was an “ideal location” between big Texas cities.