Former President Donald Trump played-up his most recent battle with the justice system and moved closer to endorsing a federal abortion ban during a gathering of conservative Christian activists, many of whom are fiercely loyal to Trump.
“Every time the radical Left Democrats, Marxists, communists, and fascists indict me, I consider it a great badge of courage,” Trump said as he keynoted the Road to Majority Policy Conference in Washington, DC, hosted by the Faith and Freedom Coalition.
RUSSIA COUP: PUTIN’S PLANE LEAVES MOSCOW AMID ‘ARMED REBELLION’ WITHIN RUSSIAN MILITARY
Trump has dominated the conference over the past two days, receiving loud crowd cheers even when he wasn’t physically in attendance. He continues to lead the GOP presidential field according to polling, despite his recent legal problems.
Special counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump and his personal aide Walt Nauta over accusations of mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House. He faces 37 felony counts, including violating part of the Espionage Act for willfully retaining national defense documents, while Nauta faces six criminal counts.
The pair were arraigned at Wilkie D. Ferguson Jr. U.S. Courthouse in Miami, Florida earlier this month. The former president entered not-guilty pleas to all charges, and maintains his actions fell within his rights as president, citing federal law.
During his address, Trump claimed: “Under the Presidential Records Act … I had every right to have these documents, personal belongings, and boxes.”
The former president called the National Archives and Records Administration, which requested Trump return federal documents after the end of his administration, “a radical Left group” that “does not have the authority to designate materials as presidential records.”
Yet Trump bragged that his presidential campaign was still dominating. “I’m probably the only person in the history of this country that’s been indicted and my numbers went up,” Trump said to loud clapping from the audience which started chanting “USA!USA!USA!”
Trump’s nearly 90-minute speech comes on the one-year anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning Roe V. Wade. The former president has often bragged that he was directly responsible for the decision after he nominated three justices, Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett, to the high court creating a conservative tilt—which he mentioned again at the conference.
“I got it done and nobody thought it was even a possibility,” he said. “As your president, I will continue to stand proudly for pro-life policies just as I did for four strong years.” But, he has stopped short of endorsing a federal abortion ban, often dancing around any questioning of the issue, Trump did inch closer to endorsing a federal abortion ban, saying there, “remains a vital role for the federal government in protecting unborn life.”
Former Vice President Mike Pence challenged all other candidates to endorse a 15-week abortion ban on Friday. The next day, he was on the Lincoln Memorial steps taking part in National Celebrate Life Day, hosted by Students for Life of America, a sign that abortion will be a key plank Pence campaigns on.
Trump, who is running against his former vice president, lambasted on his past stances on the right to life. “I was the first sitting president ever to attend the March for Life rally right here in Washington,” he said. “We cannot be afraid to take on the Democratic extremists … that’s why when I’m reelected I will continue to fight against the demented late-term abortionists.”
Trump further championed his record while in office, touting his Remain in Mexico policy dealing with the southern border, pulling the United States out of the Iran Nuclear Deal, creating the nation’s Space Force, and moving the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.
The former president received some of his loudest applause for endorsing the parental rights movement, promising to not fund schools that require a vaccine mandate, his stance on the transgender community, and saying he will uphold the Second Amendment.
He did not comment on Russian President Vladimir Putin facing a rebellion from Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and his troops. The military offense could have likely been the beginning of a Russian civil war, but now appears to have been squelched after Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko said he brokered a truce between Putin and Prigoshin.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Experts, however, say the problems between the two men are far from over, all of which will likely bolster Ukraine as it defends itself from Putin’s invasion. Trump, however, said he would end the war between Russia and Ukraine. “Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine totally settled,” he said.
Ultimately, Trump sought to portray himself as the defender of the conservative faith. “They want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom,” he said. “When I get back into the Oval Office I will totally obliterate the Deep State,” Trump said garnering him a standing ovation from the crowd.
