When asked about the indictments filed against him this year, former President Donald Trump told Republicans during a fundraising rally in South Carolina on August 5: “I’m being indicted for you.”
At the South Carolina Republican Party’s 56th Annual Silver Elephant Dinner in Columbia, Governor Henry McMaster announced Trump as the evening’s keynote speaker.
Trump, the Republican frontrunner for president in 2024, stated at the gathering, “Every time the radical left Democrats do this, and the Marxist, Communist, fascists indict me, I consider it a great badge of honor because I’m being indicted for you.”
“I don’t like that deal so much, but that’s okay,” Trump continued. “I’m being indicted because Democrats are afraid of us because we have a movement that’s never been seen in the history of our country—Make America Great Again.”
“It’s never been seen. There’s never been anything like this. And never forget our enemies want to stop us because we are the only ones who can stop them. We’re the only ones. And this is why this election is so important,” Trump said.
The annual dinner at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds is the longest-running and most successful Republican fundraising event in the state. Over 1,300 individuals attended the 56th annual event.
On August 5, South Carolina House Speaker Murrell Smith declared his support for Trump in the Republican primaries.
Murrell Smith claimed in a statement that the United States economy has flourished under President Trump’s leadership and South Carolinians were “enjoying more opportunity and prosperity,” which was felt by many in the form of more money in their pockets and more food on the table. As a result of the current administration, citizens are suffering from crippling inflation, widespread lawlessness, and a decline in moral standards.
He said that America needs a leader with a verified record of enhancing the economy, prioritizing national defense, and promoting conservative ideals.
Throughout his 76-minute address, Trump compared his administration to President Joe Biden’s.
The keynote address follows Trump’s visit to Alabama on August 4 for a fundraising event for the Alabama Republican Party.
Since pleading not guilty on four criminal counts on August 3 in connection with the second and latest federal indictment from Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith regarding the former president’s efforts to counter the results of the 2020 election, the two dinners were Trump’s first campaign events.
In the first indictment from Jack Smith’s probe, Trump was charged with 40 counts of classified document retention.
In addition to the two federal indictments, in April, Trump faced state felony charges of falsifying business records in New York.
Trump is the first former president to be charged with crimes. He is charged with 78 separate offenses in the three pending criminal proceedings.
Trump stated he was innocent of all charges and blamed Democratic President Joe Biden and his administration for targeting him for political reasons.
He has previously voiced doubts about his ability to receive a fair trial in Washington, DC, in light of the most recent criminal case brought against him.
Trump asserted at the dinner that his right to dispute the election was protected under the First Amendment. He also assured the gathering that if he is re-elected president, the Democrats’ rule will end, and America will be free again.
Trump declared that the indictments against him are because he leads Biden in the polls.
“That’s the problem; if I weren’t leading, I wouldn’t be under investigation by the deranged Jack Smith,” he said.