In an unexpected turn of events, former President Donald Trump chose to remain silent about the recent charge leveled against him during his speech at the Iowa Republican dinner on July 28. The charge, filed by Jack Smith, accuses Trump of mishandling classified documents.
Trump's silence on the matter was particularly noticeable given the timing of the event, which took place just a day after the news of the additional charge broke. Instead of addressing the legal issue, Trump chose to focus on his potential 2024 presidential campaign, vowing to "obliterate the deep state."
The former president suggested that the legal scrutiny he is facing is a direct result of his political ambitions. "By the way, if I weren't running, I would have nobody coming after me. Or if I was losing by a lot, I would have nobody coming after me," he stated.
Trump's fellow GOP members, Ron DeSantis and Will Hurd, also spoke at the conservative gathering. However, the former reality TV star's entrance to the stage was marked by a pointed musical choice. The venue played "Only In America" by Brooks & Dunn, with lyrics that alluded to Trump's legal predicaments: "One could end up going to prison, one just might be president."
The recent charge against Trump is part of an ongoing investigation by the Department of Justice's special counsel. The former president is accused of ordering staff members to delete security footage at his Mar-a-Lago home. The charge also implicates Trump's former aide, Walt Nauta, and maintenance worker, Carlos De Oliveira.
In response to the charge, Trump's campaign released a statement dismissing the allegations as a desperate attempt by the Biden administration to harass the former president. "Deranged Jack Smith knows that they have no case and is casting about for any way to salvage their illegal witch hunt," said spokesperson Steven Cheung.
The silence from Trump regarding the new charge has raised eyebrows and added a new layer of intrigue to the ongoing legal saga surrounding the former president. As the 2024 presidential race looms, the impact of these legal issues on Trump's political future remains to be seen.