Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) contended that the recent judgment against former President Donald Trump has brought the Republican Party together, even swaying those initially opposed to another Trump term into backing the ex-president.
On Thursday, Trump was found guilty on all 34 charges in his Manhattan hush money trial, marking him as the first former U.S. president convicted of a felony. Many argue this ruling might bolster support for Trump in the upcoming presidential race. Scott confirmed there is “no question” of a unified front within his party supporting Trump.
“Without any doubt, what we’ve witnessed is ‘Never Trumpers’ calling me and saying, ‘Tim, I’m on board now! I’ve seen this two-tier justice system working against the president of the United States; it could target me as well,’” Scott mentioned on Fox News Sunday. “I’ve noticed donors who’ve stayed out of this process now getting involved — one reason why we saw over $50 million raised in just 24 hours.”
Scott referred to the $52.8 million in online contributions that the Trump campaign amassed following the verdict. The surge in traffic to the former president’s campaign site even caused it to crash, as many attempted to donate after the ruling.
The South Carolina senator also highlighted several voter concerns as the election approaches, such as inflation, border security, and crime. Scott argued that Trump had a strong track record on these issues during his presidency, a record Biden cannot campaign on.
Rumors suggest Scott is among Trump’s potential choices for vice presidential candidate, along with others like Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), and former Democratic representative Tulsi Gabbard.
After Trump’s verdict, his legal team has declared their intention to appeal, claiming the trial was biased against him. They argue that the evidence does not substantiate the charges, and they are optimistic the verdict will be overturned on appeal.
