Donald Trump, the former president of the United States from 2017 to 2021, spoke this Tuesday to reassure supporters. He indicated that his presidential bid would not be withdrawn, even if he is convicted on 34 commercial record falsifications brought by a New York grand jury last week.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump faced a question from a New York judge about whether he would quit the race if found guilty. He answered firmly that he would “never leave.” The Republican leader spoke in his first televised remarks since a porn star, Stormy Daniels, publicly alleged irregular payments intended to keep quiet about their past relationship.
During the interview, Trump referred to the upcoming trial at the Manhattan courthouse as a moment that would be remembered as “terrible.” He described the courthouse environment as emotionally charged, noting that people nearby expressed sorrow. The former president also took aim at his political rival, President Joe Biden, suggesting Biden should not be running for reelection in 2024. He offered his own take that age was not the true issue, implying there were other reasons making a Biden candidacy problematic.
On foreign policy, Trump claimed that the crisis in Ukraine would look very different if he were still in the White House. He asserted that he had discussed the situation with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his presidency and suggested Putin’s view of Ukraine as intertwined with Russia. He criticized current U.S. policy and questioned the level of military support to Ukraine, arguing that the United States should rethink how it assists its ally. Trump contended that the administration had kept his military aid plans in abeyance and that resources once rebuilt for Ukraine were redirected elsewhere.
Since the war began, the United States has reportedly supplied more than 70 billion dollars in aid to Ukraine, spanning humanitarian, military, and financial support, according to data from a leading economic research institution. The most recent package, announced last week, totaled 2.6 billion dollars and included the Patriot air defense system and additional Nasams ammunition. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the delivery, saying it aligned with Kyiv’s immediate needs to face the Russian challenge.