Former President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he would not end his 2024 presidential campaign even if he was convicted and sentenced to prison in any of the criminal cases he is facing.
In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump dismissed the possibility of being found guilty of any wrongdoing, calling the investigations against him “witch hunts” and “hoaxes”.
“I don’t think that’s going to happen. I think it’s a disgrace. I think it’s a disgrace to our country. I think it’s a disgrace to our justice system,” Trump said.
Trump is currently facing two criminal indictments in New York, one for his business dealings and another for his role in the January 6th Capitol riot. He is also under investigation in Georgia for allegedly pressuring election officials to overturn the 2020 presidential results.
Trump said he was confident that he would prevail in court and that his supporters would stand by him no matter what.
“I have tremendous support. I have tremendous love in the country. I love the country, and they know that,” Trump said.
Trump also reiterated his false claims that he won the 2020 election and that it was rigged by Democrats, the media, and big tech companies.
He said he would announce his decision on whether to run for president again in 2024 after the midterm elections next year, but hinted that he was leaning towards it.
“I think you’ll be very happy,” Trump told Hewitt.
Trump’s comments came as a new poll showed him leading the Republican field for 2024 by a wide margin, with 47% of GOP voters saying they would vote for him in a primary, followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis with 19%.
However, Trump also faces significant challenges in a general election, as most Americans disapprove of his performance as president and blame him for inciting the Capitol riot.
Some legal experts have also questioned whether Trump could legally run for president if he was convicted and incarcerated, as the Constitution does not explicitly address this scenario.