Trump repeats claims — without evidence — that his trial was rigged

 The day after being convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, former President Donald Trump addressed the public from Trump Tower, asserting his innocence.

During his remarks, he reiterated several false claims about his criminal trial and expressed frustration over an ongoing gag order. He also mentioned his desire to testify in his own defense, claiming he was advised against it.

Trump's speech blended elements of self-defense against the guilty verdict with offensive rhetoric characteristic of his presidential campaign. He repeatedly criticized the court and President Joe Biden, attempting to create a misleading association between them. "They are in total conjunction with the White House and the DOJ," Trump said of the court. "Just so you understand, this is all done by Biden and his people."

There is no evidence to support this claim. The case against Trump was brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and prosecuted under New York state law, independent of the White House or DOJ.

Trump also repeated his assertion that the judge in the case, Juan Merchan, was "highly conflicted," despite there being no evidence to support this allegation.

He also expressed frustration about not testifying in the case.

"I would have testified. I wanted to testify," he said. "The theory is you never testify because as soon as you testify—anybody, if it were George Washington—don't testify because they'll get you on something that you said slightly wrong, and then they sue you for perjury."

Trump's remarks wandered into other topics, including complaints about the allegations made against him in 2022 by the congressional committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He also shifted into campaign mode, repeating his usual anti-immigration rhetoric and claiming American schools are full of people speaking "languages that we haven’t even heard of."

His comments came a day after he became the first president—former or sitting—to be convicted of a crime. Legal experts have indicated that it is unlikely Trump will face incarceration for the New York conviction. If he does not serve prison time, he will likely still be able to cast a ballot this fall.

A small gathering of supporters cheered intermittently during Trump's speech from the atrium of Trump Tower. The night before, a crowd had gathered on the street outside Trump Tower after the verdict, chanting, "New York hates you."

After Trump's remarks, President Biden addressed the verdict for the first time since Trump's conviction.

"The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed," he told reporters at the White House.

He emphasized that it was a state, not a federal, trial and stated that the system functioned as intended. Trump, he noted, has the right to appeal. "That’s how the American system of justice works," he said.

Biden then forcefully criticized Trump's disparagement of the case.

"It's reckless, it's dangerous, it's irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged, just because they don't like the verdict," he said.

Biden stressed that the U.S. justice system, which he called the "cornerstone" of America, "should be respected." "We should never allow anyone to tear it down. It's as simple as that," he said.