Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Trump airs old election grievances and baseless claims of fraud in return to rally stage

His appearance was designed to undermine a Republican politician who voted for his impeachment.

embedded260599612 Trump’s supporters at one stage chanted “Lock her up” at the mention of Hillary Clinton Tony Dejak Tony Dejak

DONALD TRUMP REPRISED his election grievances and baseless claims of fraud as he returned to the rally stage yesterday for his first campaign-style event since leaving the White House.

“This was the scam of the century and this was the crime of the century,” the former president told a crowd of thousands at Ohio’s Lorain County Fairgrounds, near Cleveland, where he began fulfilling his pledge to exact revenge on those who voted for his historic second impeachment.

The event was held to support Max Miller, a former White House aide who is challenging Republican representative Anthony Gonzalez for his congressional seat.

Gonzalez was one of 10 GOP House members who voted to impeach Trump for his role in inciting the deadly 6 January insurrection at the Capitol building. Trump has vowed to back those who run against them.

While he praised Miller as an “incredible patriot” and a “great guy” who “loves the people of Ohio”, Trump spent much of the rally fixating on the 2020 election. He still insists he won the poll, even though top state and local election officials, his own attorney general and numerous judges, including some he appointed, have said there is no evidence of the mass voter fraud he alleges took place.

Trump has been consumed with ongoing efforts to overturn the results in various states, and has even publicly entertained the idea that he could somehow be reinstated into office, even though no legal or constitutional basis for doing so exists.

“The 2020 presidential election was rigged,” he told the crowd, which at one point broke into a “Trump won!” chant.

“We won that election in a landslide.”

In reality, US President Joe Biden’s victory was thoroughly validated by the officials who reported finding no systemic fraud.

Yesterday’s focus on the election lies of 2020 began even before Trump arrived. The pre-show included a PowerPoint-style presentation by a man who claims an algorithm was used to manipulate the election results.

And Mike Lindell, the My Pillow founder-turned-conspiracy theorist who has spent millions trying to prove the election was stolen, was hailed as a hero by some in the crowd, who chanted his name and jockeyed for photos as he milled around.

When representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, a far-right Republican from Georgia known for her incendiary rhetoric, asked the crowd who their president was, they boomed loudly, “Trump!”.

“President Trump is my president, too,” she said.

embedded260599821 The former president continues to claim the 2020 election was rigged Tony Dejak Tony Dejak

The event had many of the trappings of the rallies Trump held as a candidate and as president.

There was the eclectic playlist, the same stage design, and many familiar volunteers. Trump even reprised his performance of The Snake, a song he has used as an allegory for illegal immigration. The crowd also chanted “Lock her up” at the mention of Hillary Clinton, the Democrat he defeated in 2016.

But gone was the grand entrance using Air Force Once as a backdrop, and the pomp that surrounds any sitting president.

Still, traffic through the afternoon was backed up from the fairgrounds, where pro-Trump signs dotted residents’ lawns. On street corners, vendors sold “Trump 2024” flags and other merchandise as supporters arrived.

The rally, held five months after Trump left office under a cloud of violence, marks the beginning of a new, more public phase of his post-presidency.

After spending much of his time behind closed doors building a political operation and fuming about the last election, Trump is planning a flurry of public appearances in the coming weeks. He’ll hold another rally in Florida over the July Fourth weekend unattached to a mid-term candidate and will travel to the southern border in the coming week to protest Biden’s immigration policies.

The rally came as Trump, who has continued to tease the possibility that he will mount a comeback run for the White House in 2024, faces immediate legal jeopardy.

Manhattan prosecutors informed his company on Thursday it could soon face criminal charges stemming from a wide-ranging investigation into the former president’s business dealings.

Although Trump remains a deeply polarising figure, he is extremely popular with the Republican base, and candidates have flocked to his homes in Florida and New Jersey seeking his endorsement as he has tried to position himself as his party’s kingmaker.

Trump has said he is committed to helping Republicans regain control of Congress in next year’s mid-term elections. But his efforts to support — and recruit — candidates to challenge incumbent Republicans who have crossed him put him at odds with other Republican leaders who have been trying to unify the party after a brutal year in which they lost control of the White House and failed to gain control of either chamber of Congress.

So far, nine of the 10 House Republicans who voted for Trump’s impeachment have drawn primary challengers. And Trump has offered to support anyone who steps forward to challenge the remaining candidate, representative John Katko of New York, according to a report on syracuse.com.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 76 comments
Close
76 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Declan Byrne
    Favourite Declan Byrne
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:13 PM

    No matter what way the government spin this we still should not be paying.

    251
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute werejammin
    Favourite werejammin
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:35 PM

    “The banking debt is another matter entirely.”

    David, your party, Fine Gael, turned the dodgy prom notes, which former FG banking expert Peter Matthews stated could be deferred without causing a credit event, into 40 years worth of sovereign debt that our grandkids will still be paying off.

    99
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Barnes
    Favourite Simon Barnes
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:52 PM

    They’re spinning this off as paying back a loan, which would lead you to think they are actually paying off the debt. But what they forget to include in these reports is that the money they are paying back (9bn), had to borrowed, while I acknowledge there will be a savings in interest rates it’s hardly doing us much of a favour. Our debt is still over 180bn and going north, and costing 8bn a year in interest payments and there congratulating themselves on saving a poxy 150m of that 8bn. That’s nearly 25% of the country’s tax take spent on keeping the loan sharks at bay before any down payments are made.

    51
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brian magee
    Favourite brian magee
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 6:45 PM

    David, the money used to pay the other loans would pay for the schools.
    Cause and effect, cause and effect

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Ryan
    Favourite Dermot Ryan
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 10:40 PM

    Cause and effect ?
    Private banking debts onto balance sheet = publicly owned infrastructure moved off balance – Not on my watch Brian !

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wexford pikeman
    Favourite Wexford pikeman
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:18 PM

    Roll on 2058. Hopefully?

    141
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick
    Favourite Patrick
    Report
    Dec 19th 2014, 12:40 AM

    That should save us 150 million on a debt that was never ours to begin with . Sorry I cant contain my excitment at the news.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Ryan
    Favourite Dermot Ryan
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:15 PM

    Greece got all their interest payments written off by the troika without going cap in hand around the governments of the world …
    Time for a new Government I think !

    120
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Horkan
    Favourite James Horkan
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:40 PM

    go and live in Greece and see whats its like

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gagsy 99
    Favourite Gagsy 99
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:49 PM

    If only we could be like Greece?

    Nice and sunny, which is good for the 26% of the workforce that are unemployed (and almost 50% youth unemployment).

    61
    See 10 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Ryan
    Favourite Dermot Ryan
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 6:12 PM

    No I have to go to Canada and Australia to meet my friends ……

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Barnes
    Favourite Simon Barnes
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 6:15 PM

    Greece played hard ball.. We don’t need to be like Greece we just needed politician that stuck up for us

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brian magee
    Favourite brian magee
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 6:47 PM

    Dermot, we do not want to be Greece. 30% redundancies in private sector, huge pay cuts.
    We have the fastest growing economy in Europe. Next time you make a silly statement look at the bigger picture

    30
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute james r
    Favourite james r
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 7:50 PM

    Bull Brian !! We don’t have the fastest growing economy at all . It’s all lies & spin .. To say that austerity is working .. More lies from a currupt corporate government

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brian magee
    Favourite brian magee
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 7:54 PM

    James, as much as you would like it to be, it’s not Bull. And it’s not our government who are saying it.
    http://ec.europa.eu/ireland/press_office/news_of_the_day/autumn-economic-forecasts_en.htm
    So rather than just sit here moaning and whinging you should look at facts and figures.

    17
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brian magee
    Favourite brian magee
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 7:56 PM

    And the wall street journal: http://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-REB-28885

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Ryan
    Favourite Dermot Ryan
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 10:38 PM

    Brian I am looking at the bigger picture and it is as rotten as Dorian Grey’s portrait ….

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute D H
    Favourite D H
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 11:35 PM

    Fastest growing economy in the west but fail to mention that most if not all economies in the west are stagnating, easy be the fastest when every one else is stopped

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute brian magee
    Favourite brian magee
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 11:37 PM

    To grow when others stagnate is good.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Ryan
    Favourite Dermot Ryan
    Report
    Dec 19th 2014, 12:54 AM

    so please explain where the money is coming from if our markets are shrinking …
    just to be clear by shrinking I mean that inflation is turning stagnation into a negative ….

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rossa O Brien
    Favourite Rossa O Brien
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:21 PM

    The interest saved is money in the countries account not the IMF. Well done Mr Noonan

    99
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Barnes
    Favourite Simon Barnes
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 6:09 PM

    until the junior bondholders get their 280m payout from Anglo. won’t be in our account for long, any money we have is destined for the rich

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Enda
    Favourite Enda
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:14 PM

    To put this in everyday terms we are a vegetarian that was forced to order a big greasy Super Size Mac Meal and are now chuffed with ourselves because we got a sachet of salt for free.

    97
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute A$AP Donie
    Favourite A$AP Donie
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:13 PM

    He’s doing a fine job

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute poisonivy
    Favourite poisonivy
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:13 PM

    It was going so well until I got to the part where we owe €22.5Billion. €750 million just pennies in comparison

    56
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute CitizenSmith©
    Favourite CitizenSmith©
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:15 PM

    3% is not to be sniffed at.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gagsy 99
    Favourite Gagsy 99
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:41 PM

    9bn out of 22.5bn is quite a dent?

    I think you are comparing interest to principal.

    15
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Barnes
    Favourite Simon Barnes
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:54 PM

    gagsy. 9bn was borrowed from the markets to pay that 9bn to the IMF We still owe the money, no debt has been paid down from this.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gagsy 99
    Favourite Gagsy 99
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 7:38 PM

    I know – but at much lower rates.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Denis Maher
    Favourite Denis Maher
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:27 PM

    Yes Dermot our craven corrupt politicians lack two things that rhyme with town halls. And why would they care, they are creamiig it with some of the highest pay/pensions in the world, austerity doesn’t affect those c@*ts

    41
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dermot Ryan
    Favourite Dermot Ryan
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 6:13 PM

    not yet !
    The stability they are screaming for is actually code for non-discovery …… as far as I can tell !

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Byrne
    Favourite Martin Byrne
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 5:32 PM

    Imagine how flush we would be now as a country if that loan wasn’t necessary.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute james r
    Favourite james r
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 7:46 PM

    Hilarious !! Getting praised for paying a debt that was never the irish people’s to start with .. This government should be in mount joy

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jason Bourne
    Favourite Jason Bourne
    Report
    Dec 18th 2014, 6:16 PM

    What about the 8,000 million interrst we will be paying next year and every year after that.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gary Marshall
    Favourite Gary Marshall
    Report
    Dec 19th 2014, 6:54 AM

    Our great employment from multiple national’s is false. if Europe gets there way and increase taxes. They will pull out regardless

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds