Sens. J.D. Vance (R‑OH) and Tommy Tuberville (R‑AL) appeared behind former President Donald Trump at his New York hush money trial.
The two appeared behind the president while he gave a press conference outside the New York courthouse, alongside Eric Trump and Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R‑NY). They stood in silence as Donald Trump spoke about his favorable poll numbers and denounced his prosecution.
Sen. J.D. Vance (R‑OH) rear center, listens as former President Donald Trump speaks to the media at his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on Monday, May 13, 2024. (Spencer Platt/Pool Photo via AP)
“This trial is rigged, it’s dishonest, It’s a disgrace,” the former president said. “It’s a disgrace to the country. I should be campaigning now instead of sitting in a very calm courthouse. … This is a vile prosecution. This is election interference at a level this country has never seen before. This is for third-world countries, not for the U.S.A. Thank you very much.”
The former president also showed off printed-out polls from the New York Times, showing him “leading everywhere, by a lot.”
Tuberville and Vance are two of Donald Trump’s most outspoken supporters in the Senate. The latter gave his thoughts on the trial in posts on X.
“We started in Trump Tower with a beautiful view of Central Park. Then you come to a dingy court house with people like Alvin Bragg,” Vance posted. “They prevent his supporters from getting too close to the court house, and they prevent his friends from standing too close to him. The president is expected to sit here for six weeks to listen to the Michael Cohens of the world. I’m now convinced the main goal of this trial is psychological torture. But Trump is in great spirits.”
At Trump trial today. Some observations:1) we started in Trump Tower with a beautiful view of Central Park. Then you come to a dingy court house with people like Alvin Bragg. They prevent his supporters from getting too close to the court house, and they prevent his friends…
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) May 13, 2024
He added that he was ready to fall asleep less than half an hour into the proceedin …