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On Sunday’s main political talk shows, former Trump Secretary of Defense Mark Esper harshly criticized his ex-boss, but Republican presidential candidates such as Mike Pence, Asa Hutchinson and Chris Christie also criticized Trump’s behavior.
The comments stood in stark contrast to comments made by many Republican congressmen who had either defended Trump or dismissed criticism of him.
Trump ‘should get out’
Trump pleaded not guilty to all 37 charges in an initial court hearing on Tuesday. The main contender for the Republican presidential nomination is charged with, among other things, illegally keeping classified files at his private residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. He also faces charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice, concealment of documents and making false statements.
Former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson called the allegations “serious and disqualifying” on ABC. According to him, Trump should “drop out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination,” Hutchinson said on the talk show This Week.
“No One Is Above The Law”
If the claim that the documents contain information about the country’s security is true, it could do “quite a lot of damage to the nation,” ex-Defense Secretary Esper told CNN, calling the revelations “disturbing.” “No one is above the law,” he said on the State of the Union program.
Candidates for the Republican presidential nomination are in the difficult position of having to articulate what sets them apart from the up-and-coming Trump — without alienating his loyal and powerful supporters.
Trump’s former US vice president, Mike Pence, said on the NBC talk show “Meet the Press”: “I can’t defend what he’s being accused of.” However, he would not rule until Trump had had the opportunity to take his case to court. “I don’t know why some of my competitors in the Republican primary are assuming the president will be found guilty,” he continued.
“He’s a Stubborn Boy”
Trump is said to have taken the relevant documents from the White House to Mar-a-Lago at the end of his term in January 2021. The former president has denied the allegations, describing the charges as an attempt by his successor Joe Biden’s administration to sideline him politically.
After the court hearing, the right-wing populist spoke on Tuesday evening about the “most evil and horrific abuse of power in the history of our country”. Many Republicans have endorsed the ex-president’s allegations.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who entered the race for the Republican presidential nomination in early June, criticized Trump for “whining and whining and whining about how unfair everything is.” Christie, a former US attorney, also accused Trump of scolding ex-subordinates when they upset or disappointed him. “He’s a stubborn kid when someone disagrees with him,” Christie said.
Nikki Haley, former US ambassador to the UN and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, sharply criticized her ex-boss last Monday. “If these allegations are true, President Trump has been incredibly reckless with our national security,” Haley told Fox News. (AFP)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
