Trump posts he will risk jail for speech rights
Former president draws ire ahead of $50.5M fundraiser in Florida
Antonio Fins
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said Saturday he would “gladly” go to jail in defense of his free-speech rights – but appeared to stop well short of crossing the red line set by a New York judge.
Trump is under a limited gag order in the so-called New York hush money criminal case that prevents him from speaking out about people involved in the case, including witnesses, jurors and prosecutors, other than the judge.
The missives were harsh and personal – toward presiding Judge Juan Merchan, Judge Arthur Engoron of the civil fraud case against Trump and his business, as well as federal Judge Lewis Kaplan, who presided over a civil defamation case against Trump – but did not attack witnesses or court staff.
“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 wrote in the post.
Biden-Harris 2024 Director of Black Media Jasmine Harris ripped Trump’s comparison to the legendary South African human rights leader 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 said in a statement.
The posts preceded, by a few hours, a Saturday night fundraiser at the Palm Beach, Florida, house of billionaire hedge fund guru John Paulson.
Trump’s campaign said the fundraiser raked in a massive $50.5 million – his biggest fundraiser yet – as the former president seeks to replenish diminished coffers.
According to an invitation obtained by USA TODAY, the attendees include a super-wealthy cadre such as Palm Beach County sugar mogul José “Pepe” Fanjul, as well as Palm Beach resident and former Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross.
The invitation also lists Howard Lutnick, head of the investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald, mega-GOP donors Rebekah and Robert Mercer, Chicago Cubs co-owner Todd Ricketts, investment banker Warren Stephens and real estate magnate Steve Witkoff.
The price of admission on the invitation was $250,000 with a maximum contribution of $814,600, the latter of which the Washington Post reported landed a seat at Trump’s table.
It was a much-needed boost for Trump, who has been routinely outraised by Biden amid a financial squeeze due to ballooning lawyer fees and legal payouts from his criminal and civil court cases.
“People are just wanting change. Rich people want it, poor people want it,” said Trump in comments ahead of the fundraiser, flanked by his wife, Melania Trump, who has largely stayed away from the campaign trail so far.
Biden spokesperson Ammar Moussa said on social media site X that billionaires had flocked to Trump’s event due to tax preferences.
“The ultra-wealthy are really mad at Joe Biden for making them pay their fair share,” Moussa said in a tweet.
On Saturday, President Joe Biden’s campaign said it raised more than $187 million in the first quarter of 2024, including more than $90 million last month alone.
It added: “While Trump cozies up to billionaires tonight to raise his money, Team Biden-Harris’ first-quarter haul was driven by the strength of our grassroots support, which continues to grow month over month.”
Contributing: Reuters