Former President Donald Trump declared at his latest rally in South Dakota that his multiple indictments were for his supporters.
What Happened: The event held on Friday was Trump’s first public appearance following his fourth indictment. He addressed a crowd of approximately 7,000 attendees in a hockey arena in Rapid City, S.D., expressing his belief that the country was being destroyed, reported The New York Times.
Trump boldly stated, "I'm being indicted for you," referring to his four criminal cases.
"That's not part of the job description," he said, adding "but I'm being indicted for you."
"They're just destroying our country," the former president told the crowd, referring to his political opponent and the incumbent president Joe Biden.
"And if we don't take it back — if we don't take it back in '24, I really believe we're not going to have a country left," he added.
Despite Trump’s legal predicaments, his campaign continues to leverage his booking photo for fundraising initiatives and merchandise sales.
Why It Matters: Trump’s supporters seem unfazed by his legal issues, with some attendees sporting t-shirts featuring his mug shot with the slogan, "Never Surrender."
Despite facing a total of 91 charges, Trump’s popularity in the GOP presidential primary race remains high. However, it’s worth noting that a majority of Americans believe his criminal cases are justified, according to polls.
The rally was hosted by the South Dakota Republican Party. It was attended by the state’s Republican governor, Kristi Noem, who endorsed Trump’s campaign in her introduction speech. "He is the leader, the father that our country needs. He has my full and complete endorsement for president of the United States of America," she stated.
Read Next: Trump's Eligibility For 2024 Presidential Race in Question, Says Judge Luttig
This illustration was generated using artificial intelligence via MidJourney
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