The Republican candidate openly criticized Trump during dinner. Photo: Reuters
Donald Trump said “no one will come for him” with criminal charges if he did not run for president as he shared the stage with 2024 contender Ron DeSantis for the first time.
Speaking At a Republican rally in Des Moines, Iowa, Trump, 77, lashed out at the 44-year-old Florida governor, whom he derisively referred to as “DeSanctus.”
“I wouldn't risk it,” Trump taunted the crowd , listing the polls. demonstrating his advantage over both the Republicans and Joe Biden.
“There is only one candidate, and you know who that candidate is, who can do the job,” he said to applause.
The former president's appearance at the Lincoln dinner came after prosecutors added additional charges against him. dealing with classified documents, and as he prepares for a potential third indictment in connection with attempts to cancel the 2020 election.
Referring to his legal troubles on Friday night, Trump told the crowd: “If I hadn't run, no one would follow me. Or, if I lost a lot, no one would be chasing me.”
He quickly presented a cursory overview of his accomplishments in office, sticking to a prearranged script, breaking with tradition. , due to a strict 10-minute time limit for each speaker.
He received thunderous applause from an audience of about 1,200 Republicans, and the last of 13 Republican presidential candidates spoke at the dinner.
< p>Only one of those present dared to voice Trump's legal claims to the crowd, and he was immediately booed from the stage.
.@WillHurd in Iowa: “Donald Trump is not running for president to make America great again… Donald Trump is running to avoid going to jail… Look, I know the truth is harsh, but if we elect Donald Trump, we willingly give Joe Biden four more years in the White House. pic.twitter.com/wZvx9FBEIa
— CSPAN (@cspan) July 29, 2023
Will Hurd, former CIA agent and Congressman from Texas, said: “Donald Trump is not running for president to make America great again…Donald Trump is running to stay out of prison.”
There were loud cheers and cheers from the crowd, and some even asked Mr. Heard to leave the room.
“The truth is hard,” said Mr. Heard, as if interrupting his remarks as he left the podium.< /p>
Mr. Trump shared the stage with his 2024 Republican rivals for the first time, each given 10 minutes.
For his part, Mr. DeSantis avoided calling Mr. Trump by his first name, instead jumping onto the stage to immediately attack Mr. Biden. He said: “Are you ready to send Joe Biden back to his basement in Delaware on a permanent vacation?”
“My son is only five years old, so he is not going to line his pockets with money. from foreign governments,” he continued, referring to Biden’s son Hunter.
Nikki Haley, a former UN ambassador, also poked fun at Mr. Biden’s family drama hours after the US President and Jill Biden recognized their seventh grandchild for the first time.
Ms. Haley reiterated her call for a mental competence test for any candidate over 75.
“There are no hard tests,” she says, suggesting questions such as “Which city were you born in? How many grandchildren do you have?”
In a conversation with The Telegraph after her speech, Ms. Haley also reiterated her insistence that the US must continue to strongly support Ukraine.
Questioned Whether she was worried that Republican support for armaments in Kiev was wavering, she replied, “No.”
“This is too important,” she said, adding that it was “in the interest of our national security.” for Ukraine's victory.”
But it was Trump who was the undisputed favorite of the crowd, whose supporters lined up in long lines hoping to take a selfie with the former president at his after-dinner event.
p> 
Photo: Reuters
Deborah Nelsen, a 66-year-old small business owner, was thrilled by Mr Trump's photo, but his speech was not impressed.
“It was rushed,” she said, adding that the short speech was not in Mr. Trump’s style.
Ms. Nelsen said that she The criminal charges Mr. Trump faced amounted to “election interference” but would ultimately “strengthen” his campaign by encouraging people to donate.
86-year-old Sarah Bryson, a retired farmer, was less sure.
“It makes me nervous,” she said, suggesting it might alienate some Trump voters. “It's on people's minds.”
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