In his inaugural campaign rally following his conviction on 34 felony charges, former President Donald Trump denounced the trial as “rigged” and the judge as “highly conflicted,” insisting that “no crime” had been committed.
Throughout the past year, Trump has consistently highlighted his legal battles during his campaign, portraying the charges as attempts to interfere with the election and undermine the Maga movement.
“Those appellate courts have to step up and straighten things out, or we’re not going to have a country any longer,” Trump declared.
Addressing supporters at a Turning Point Action event in Phoenix’s Dream City Church, Trump criticized President Joe Biden’s recent executive order limiting asylum seekers, labeling it “bullshit” and pledging to rescind it on his first day back in office if re-elected.
He also revisited his administration’s immigration policies, urging Biden to adopt them to address current issues.
“Arizona is being turned into a dumping ground for the dungeons of the third world,” Trump stated, focusing on immigration, a critical issue for voters in the border state.
He nostalgically mentioned former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, known for his strict immigration policies, and invited him on stage for a brief appearance.
During the rally, Trump recalled Arpaio’s tenure, praising his tough stance on border security.
“I don’t kiss men, but I kissed him.
We had a real border with this guy,” Trump said, with Arpaio referring to Trump as his hero.
Arizona remains a key battleground as Trump seeks to reclaim it from Biden, who won the state by approximately 10,500 votes.
The state has seen significant election denialism, with some Republicans who lost in the 2022 midterms still contesting the results.
In response to Trump’s convictions, the Democratic National Committee unveiled a billboard in Phoenix—their first paid ad focusing on Trump’s legal troubles.
The billboard reads: “Trump already attacked Arizona’s democracy once.
Now he’s back as a convicted felon. He’s out for revenge and retribution. Trump: unfit to serve.”
For Trump supporters, the convictions have sparked anger towards the opposition and have even become a badge of honor.
Rally attendees sported shirts and signs proclaiming, “I’m voting for the convicted felon.”
Trump reiterated claims of election fraud, alleging that Democrats “used Covid to cheat” in the 2020 election. He also endorsed Kari Lake and Abe Hamadeh, both unsuccessful candidates in 2022, asserting that their losses were due to rigged elections.
Promoting voter engagement, Trump directed attendees to the “Swamp the Vote” website, a Republican National Committee initiative encouraging voter registration and participation to ensure victory.
The rally concluded with a Q&A session where Trump addressed audience questions on border security, drug issues, and inflation.
He vowed to combat inflation by increasing energy production and assured that rural healthcare access would improve under his leadership, though details were sparse.
When asked how he would assist seniors struggling with bills, Trump simply responded, “Vote for Trump.”
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