'A very sad day for America': Donald Trump's full statement

Donald Trump addressed reporters shortly after the court hearing in Washington. Photo: AP

Donald Trump said he was the victim of political «persecution». after pleading not guilty to charges of plotting to cancel the 2020 election.

The GOP leader appeared at the E Barrett Prettyman Courthouse in Washington, D.C. for a 27-minute hearing on Thursday afternoon.

>Trump, 77, said it was a «very sad day for America» ​​before boarding his private jet to his Bedminster estate in New Jersey after speaking in court.

Clutching a black umbrella as he spoke on the airfield at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington, Trump said the indictment was tantamount to «going after a political opponent.»

«This a very sad day for America,” he said.< /p>

“It was also very sad to drive through Washington, DC, and see the dirt and devastation, all the destroyed buildings, walls and graffiti.

Former President Donald Trump speaks after pleading not guilty to 2020 election interference charges https://t.co/mxiIHgcmuB pic.twitter.com/IUvUiKeL9R

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) August 3, 2023

“This is not where I left off. It is very sad to see this.

“If you look at what is happening, it is the persecution of a political opponent. This should never have happened in America.

«This is the persecution of a man who leads with a very, very significant number of votes in the Republican primaries and far ahead of [Joe] Biden.»

» Therefore, if you cannot defeat him, you persecute him or legally prosecute him.

«We can't let this happen in America.»

Donald Trump indicted on campaign charges