8/4 – This post has been updated since publication to reflect new comments made by Nikki Haley.
In the wake of the latest indictment brought against former President Donald Trump, the other Republican presidential candidates are weighing in on the news. The wide range of responses from Trump’s GOP opponents reveals a great deal about where each one stands heading into the first primary debate on August 23.
As Valuetainment reported earlier today, Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury on Tuesday for his alleged efforts to reverse the 2020 presidential election and his actions leading up to January 6, 2021. Trump stands accused of Conspiracy to Defraud the United States, Conspiracy to Obstruct an Official Proceeding, Obstruction of and Attempt to Obstruct an Official Proceeding, and Conspiracy Against Rights.
Defending Donald Trump
By far the most outraged response came from biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, currently in third place in the polls. In a video uploaded to social media, Ramaswamy condemned the indictment, called out corruption in the 2020 election, and, most notably, promised to pardon Trump if elected—the only candidate to do so.
“The corrupt federal police just won’t stop until they’ve achieved their mission: eliminate Trump,” he wrote. “This is un-American & I commit to pardoning Trump for this indictment.”
The corrupt federal police just won’t stop until they’ve achieved their mission: eliminate Trump. This is un-American & I commit to pardoning Trump for this indictment. Donald Trump isn’t the cause of what happened on Jan 6. The real cause was systematic & pervasive censorship of… pic.twitter.com/c1OpZNOl6c
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) August 1, 2023
Join Valuetainment for a special live town hall with Vivek Ramaswamy on August 4!
Seeing Cause for Concern
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott likewise expressed grave concerns about the weaponization of the justice system, although both stopped well short of declaring Trump innocent or promising a pardon. “While I’ve seen reports, I have not read the indictment,” tweeted DeSantis, currently second in the race. “I do, though, believe we need to enact reforms so that Americans have the right to remove cases from Washington, DC to their home districts. Washington, DC is a ‘swamp’ and it is unfair to have to stand trial before a jury that is reflective of the swamp mentality.”
As President, I will end the weaponization of government, replace the FBI Director, and ensure a single standard of justice for all Americans.
While I’ve seen reports, I have not read the indictment. I do, though, believe we need to enact reforms so that Americans have the right…
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) August 1, 2023
“What we see today are two different tracks of justice. One for political opponents and another for the son of the current president,” wrote Scott.
I remain concerned about the weaponization of Biden’s DOJ and its immense power used against political opponents.
What we see today are two different tracks of justice. One for political opponents and another for the son of the current president.
— Tim Scott (@votetimscott) August 2, 2023
Attacks from the Opposition
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley waited until Thursday to make a statement about the situation. “Unlike the other candidates, I didn’t rush out with a statement yesterday on Trump’s indictment for one simple reason — like most Americans, I’m tired of commenting on every Trump drama,” Haley said on the “Good Morning New Hampshire with Jack Heath” radio show. “I’ve lost track of whether this indictment is the third or fourth or the fifth. We should be focusing on how to stop China. We should be focusing on how to close the border. We need to be reversing Bidenomics. Putting a 77-year-old former president in prison doesn’t do any of that. We’ve got to move on already.”
From there, the reactions to Trump’s indictment became significantly more negative, some even bordering on vindictive. The most notable condemnation came from Trump’s former Vice President, Mike Pence (currently polling at 4.4% without qualifying for the first primary debate). In a lengthy X thread, Pence resoundingly condemned Trump’s actions after the 2020 election, particularly on January 6—and given Trump’s frequent attacks against his former vice president, this was no surprise. “Today’s indictment serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States.”
Today's indictment serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States.
— Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) August 2, 2023
Pence went on to say that while Trump is innocent until proven guilty, “our country is more important than one man. Our constitution is more important than any one man’s career.”
In that same vein, the remaining candidates that addressed the indictment (several of whom have not met the polling or fundraising requirements to participate in the first debate) all took the opportunity to condemn Trump.
“[Trump] swore an oath to the Constitution, violated his oath & brought shame to his presidency,” said former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
The events around the White House from election night forward are a stain on our country’s history & a disgrace to the people who participated. This disgrace falls the most on Donald Trump. He swore an oath to the Constitution, violated his oath & brought shame to his presidency.
— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) August 2, 2023
Former Texas Congressman Will Hurd stated that “Trump’s presidential bid is driven by an attempt to stay out of prison and scam his supporters into footing his legal bills,” then stated that the 2020 election was in no way fraudulent or stolen.
Let me be crystal clear: Trump's presidential bid is driven by an attempt to stay out of prison and scam his supporters into footing his legal bills. Furthermore, his denial of the 2020 election results and actions on Jan. 6 show he's unfit for office.
— Will Hurd (@WillHurd) August 1, 2023
Lastly, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said that Trump’s indictment reinforces his disqualification from office. Hutchinson then used the opportunity to fundraise for his campaign, which has struggled to draw crowds larger than a few dozen people.
Exactly one year ago, I told the @washingtonpost that Trump had disqualified himself from ever being President again.
Today’s #TrumpIndictment reinforced that.
America deserves a leader who respects the rule of law.
Help me get to the first debate: https://t.co/dkM6btrQat
— Gov. Asa Hutchinson (@AsaHutchinson) August 2, 2023
Donald Trump Responds
On Truth Social, Trump fired back at several of the other candidates for their criticism, also calling Special Counsel Jack Smith “deranged” and accusing him of election interference with the timing of the indictment.
Trump’s official statement on the new charges can be read HERE.
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