Trump convicted of all counts Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump walks to speak to the press after he was convicted in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A New York jury convicted Donald Trump on all charges in his hush money case on May 30, 2024 in a seismic development barely five months ahead of the election where he seeks to recapture the White House. (Photo by JUSTIN LANE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN LANE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (JUSTIN LANE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Moments after former President Donald Trump’s guilty verdict was read, politicians took to various platforms to share their thoughts about the historic decision.
Trump said shortly after being found guilty on all 34 charges against him, “Our whole country is being rigged right now.”
He blamed President Joe Biden for being put on trial, “This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson called the verdict, “a shameful day in American history,” CNN reported. He called the trial “a purely political exercise, not a legal one.” He called the verdict “absurd” and predicted that Trump would win his appeal.
He parroted Trump’s views: “The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents.”
CNN reported President Joe Biden’s campaign communications director released a statement that read, “Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But today’s verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.
“The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater,” Tyler wrote. “A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans’ freedoms and fomenting political violence — and the American people will reject it this November,” communications director Michael Tyler wrote.
Ian Sams from the White House Counsel’s office said, “We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment.”
Trump supporter, House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik said the verdict “shows how corrupt and rigged the American system has become under Joe Biden,” CNN reported.
Trump’s former fixer and one of the key witnesses in the trial, Michael Cohen, released a statement to The Associated Press via text, writing, “Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law. While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters.”
Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who is the Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders—regardless of party—must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law.”
Trump convicted of all counts Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak to the press after he was convicted in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A panel of 12 New Yorkers were unanimous in their determination that Donald Trump is guilty as charged -- but for the impact on his election prospects, the jury is still out. The Republican billionaire was convicted of all 34 charges in New York on May 30, 2024, and now finds himself bidding for a second presidential term unsure if he'll be spending 2025 in the Oval Office, on probation or in jail. (Photo by Seth Wenig / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SETH WENIG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (SETH WENIG/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump convicted of all counts Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump walks to speak to the press after he was convicted in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A New York jury convicted Donald Trump on all charges in his hush money case on May 30, 2024 in a seismic development barely five months ahead of the election where he seeks to recapture the White House. (Photo by JUSTIN LANE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN LANE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (JUSTIN LANE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump guilty on all counts A member of the media holds a phone displaying a news broadcast after the verdict was read at Manhattan criminal court in New York, US, on Thursday, May 30, 2024. A New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of multiple felonies at his hush-money trial, making him the first former US president to be convicted of crimes. Photographer: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images/Bloomberg via Getty Images (Bloomberg/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Trump guilty on all counts Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump leaves Manhattan Criminal Court in his motorcade after he was convicted in his criminal trial in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A panel of 12 New Yorkers were unanimous in their determination that Donald Trump is guilty as charged -- but for the impact on his election prospects, the jury is still out. The Republican billionaire was convicted of all 34 charges in New York on May 30, 2024, and now finds himself bidding for a second presidential term unsure if he'll be spending 2025 in the Oval Office, on probation or in jail. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images) (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump guilty on all counts People react after former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted in his criminal trial outside of Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A panel of 12 New Yorkers were unanimous in their determination that Donald Trump is guilty as charged -- but for the impact on his election prospects, the jury is still out. The Republican billionaire was convicted of all 34 charges in New York on May 30, 2024, and now finds himself bidding for a second presidential term unsure if he'll be spending 2025 in the Oval Office, on probation or in jail. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images) (CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump convicted of all counts Pro-Trump and anti-Trump protesters clash outside the Manhattan Criminal Court Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York City. (Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images) (New York Daily News/TNS)
Trump convicted of all counts Trump supporters react as a verdict was reached in the criminal trial of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, in Collect Pond Park across the street from Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Jurors return May 30, 2024 to a second day of deliberations in Donald Trump's criminal trial, leaving the Republican presidential candidate and the country waiting for a decision that could upend November's election. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump convicted of all counts People react after former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted in his criminal trial outside of Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A New York jury convicted Donald Trump on all charges in his hush money case on May 30, 2024 in a seismic development barely five months ahead of the election where he seeks to recapture the White House. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump convicted of all counts Trump supporters react as a verdict was reached in the criminal trial of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, in Collect Pond Park across the street from Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Jurors return May 30, 2024 to a second day of deliberations in Donald Trump's criminal trial, leaving the Republican presidential candidate and the country waiting for a decision that could upend November's election. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump convicted of all counts People react after former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted in his criminal trial outside of Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A New York jury convicted Donald Trump on all charges in his hush money case on May 30, 2024 in a seismic development barely five months ahead of the election where he seeks to recapture the White House. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump convicted of all counts A Trump supporter reacts as a verdict was announced in the criminal trial of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, in Collect Pond Park across the street from Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. The jury in Donald Trump's hush money trial announced Thursday in a note to the court that it has reached a verdict, indicating that this would be delivered in less than an hour. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump convicted of all counts People react after former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted in his criminal trial outside of Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A New York jury convicted Donald Trump on all charges in his hush money case on May 30, 2024 in a seismic development barely five months ahead of the election where he seeks to recapture the White House. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump convicted of all counts Trump supporters react as a verdict was reached in the criminal trial of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, in Collect Pond Park across the street from Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Jurors return May 30, 2024 to a second day of deliberations in Donald Trump's criminal trial, leaving the Republican presidential candidate and the country waiting for a decision that could upend November's election. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) (KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump Hush Money Spectators outside Manhattan Criminal Court watch for the verdict against former President Donald Trump, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) (Julia Nikhinson/AP)
Trump Hush Money Former President Donald Trump comments to members of the media after being found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree at Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool) (Seth Wenig/AP)
Trump Hush Money Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool) (Seth Wenig/AP)
Trump Hush Money A supporter of former President Donald Trump and an anti-Trump protester fight outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) (Julia Nikhinson/AP)
Trump Hush Money In this courtroom sketch, Thursday May 30, 2024, a courtroom stenographer seated in witness box, left, reads back testimony that the jury requested, as the jury, far right takes notes. Jury deliberations in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial entered their second day on Thursday. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) (Elizabeth Williams/AP)
Trump convicted of all counts Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump returns to the courtroom during his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. Jurors return May 30, 2024 to a second day of deliberations in Donald Trump's criminal trial, leaving the Republican presidential candidate and the country waiting for a decision that could upend November's election. (Photo by JUSTIN LANE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN LANE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (JUSTIN LANE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump convicted of all counts Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to the media during his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. The jury in Donald Trump's hush money trial announced May 30, 2024 in a note to the court that it has reached a verdict, indicating that this would be delivered in less than an hour. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago / POOL / AFP) (Photo by MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump Hush Money A supporter of Donald Trump reacts to the guilty verdict announced against the former President outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) (Julia Nikhinson/AP)
Trump Hush Money People react to the guilty verdict announced against former President Donald Trump outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson) (Julia Nikhinson/AP)