Trump rails against hush money judge in post-conviction remarks: ‘He’s really a devil’

NEW YORK — Former President Trump railed against the outcome of his hush money trial in New York on Friday, the morning after he was found guilty on 34 felony counts, tearing into Judge Juan Merchan and the district attorney who brought the case, Alvin Bragg (D).

Trump, in lengthy and often rambling remarks from the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan, blasted the trial as “a scam” and “rigged” and portrayed himself as “honored” to have gone through the process that concluded with him becoming the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony.

He vowed to appeal his conviction.

“As far as the trial itself, it was very unfair,” Trump said.

“You saw what happened to some of the witnesses that were on our side. They were literally crucified by this man, who looks like an angel, but he’s really a devil,” Trump added, referring to Merchan.

Trump spoke for just over 30 minutes and took no questions. He veered off script for significant portions of his speech, defending his conduct during the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol, invoking a machete attack at a New York City McDonald’s and claiming immigrants coming to the U.S. possess propane stoves.

A crowd of Trump Organization employees cheered the former president as he walked to the podium, passing by the escalator he descended nine years ago to announce what would become a successful 2016 presidential bid.

Soon after that announcement, Trump met with his then-fixer Michael Cohen and the publisher of a friendly tabloid in the same Manhattan building, where they agreed to stamp out bad press about Trump in the lead up to the election — the start of the conspiracy underpinning his conviction. 

The former president rehashed many of the complaints he’s raised for months. He bemoaned that his request for a venue change was denied, and his push for Merchan to recuse himself was dismissed.

Trump also lashed out at a gag order that prohibits him from attacking witnesses in the case, as well as court staff and their family members. Merchan has already fined him thousands of dollars for violating the gag order.

“Think of it: I’m the leading candidate. I’m leading Biden by a lot, and I’m leading the Republicans to the point where that’s over,” Trump said. “So I’m the leading person for president, and I’m under a gag order by a man that can’t put two sentences together.”

Trump claimed his legal problems were being orchestrated by President Biden “and his people,” though there is no evidence the Biden White House played a role in the case that was brought by the state of New York.

Trump was found guilty of counts that included general ledger entries in his business records that prosecutors said covered up repaying his then-attorney Michael Cohen, who paid porn actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election to keep quiet about an alleged affair from a decade prior.

“I’m not allowed to use his name because of the gag order, but you know, he’s a sleazebag,” Trump said of Cohen.

Eric Trump, the former president’s son who frequented his father’s trial, was present for the remarks, along with his wife, Lara Trump, who co-chairs the Republican National Committee. A top executive at the Trump Organization and Trump’s legal spokeswoman, Alina Habba, attended, too. 

At one point, Trump pointed to a small crowd of his supporters gathered across the street from Trump Tower and thanked them. Many wielded large pro-Trump flag, and one honked a horn that could be heard inside.

The 12-person jury in the hush money trial returned its verdict late Thursday afternoon after deliberations lasted for approximately 11 hours.

Trump has denied the affair and had pleaded not guilty. He is expected to appeal the verdict. The judge has set a sentencing date of July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention where Trump is expected to be officially named the 2024 GOP nominee for president.

“In a way I’m honored. It’s not that it’s pleasant — it’s very bad for family, it’s very bad for friends and businesses. But I’m honored to be involved in it, because somebody has to do it, and I might as well keep going and be the one.”

President Biden has yet to publicly weigh in on the verdict, but some Democrats appeared content to sit back and let Trump’s meandering remarks take the spotlight.

“Concise, effective, inspirational and speaking right to the concerns of swing voters in Michigan and Wisconsin. Brilliant stuff,” former Biden aide Kate Bedingfield posted sarcastically on X, a message that was reposted by at least one Biden campaign official.

Zach Schonfeld contributed.

Updated 12:13 p.m.