Trump the new ‘Christ & Mandela’
WASHINGTON: While boasting about raising more than $US50m ($76m) at a single fundraising event for his election campaign, Donald Trump has once again compared himself to South African anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.
Mr Trump last week likened himself to Jesus Christ and on the weekend claimed his treatment by the courts was similar to that handed out to Mandela who served 27 years in jail because of his stand against apartheid.
Among the four criminal cases he is fighting, Mr Trump is accused of paying hush money to a porn star before the 2016 presidential election, with a trial to begin next week. Mr Trump has accused judge Juan Merchan of infringing his First Amendment rights to free speech and expression by imposing a partial gag order on him.
“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,” Mr Trump wrote.
President Joe Biden’s campaign team quickly went on the offensive.
“Imagine being so selfcentred 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,” they said in a statement.
Mr Trump later claimed bragging rights over the pair’s high-stakes battle for big money ahead of November’s presidential election.
At a function at the Palm Beach home of billionaire hedge fund manager John Paulson, at which a seat at Trump’s table cost $US814,600, the former president’s team said they raised $US50.5m.
They called Mr Biden’s event last week in New York with former presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton at his side, which raised at least $US25m, “desperate” in comparison.