- author, Rachel Looker
- stock, BBC News, Washington
US President Joe Biden has said it was “irresponsible” for his predecessor, Donald Trump, to claim his trial was rigged after his historic conviction.
In his first public comments on Trump’s guilty verdict on 34 counts of falsifying business records, Mr Biden defended the US justice system.
“The American principle that no one is above the law has been reaffirmed,” Mr Biden said.
Earlier Friday, Trump gave a fiery news conference at Trump Tower in Manhattan, calling the judge “crooked,” the investigation “whitewashed,” and Democrats “thugs.”
Mr Biden’s comments came at the start of a White House news conference on Friday afternoon, where he discussed a new Israeli proposal for the Middle East and Gaza.
Mr Biden said his Republican opponent in the November presidential election had been given “every opportunity” to defend himself and be heard by a jury of 12 US citizens and had no right to complain the process was unfair.
It is irresponsible
Mr Biden, who has rarely spoken publicly about Mr Trump’s legal troubles, said the justice system was the “cornerstone of America”.
“The justice system should be respected and we should never allow anyone to tear it down. It’s that simple. That’s America. That’s who we are,” he said.
Trump spoke briefly outside court Thursday, arguing that he was treated unfairly and that it was a “non-litigation case.”
He blasted Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Brock for bringing him to court.
“It’s a disgrace, it’s a fraudulent investigation,” he said.
Trump reiterated his complaints at a news conference on Friday, in which he took no questions from reporters and confirmed his team would appeal the conviction.
He reiterated that the investigation was a “fraud” and argued that the New York case was politically motivated and a “witch hunt.”
He told his supporters that a witness called by his defense team was “literally crucified” and that “if they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone.”
Both Mr Biden and Mr Trump are seeking to increase donations to their campaigns following Thursday’s ruling.
Mr Biden posted a fundraising link to ActBlue, a Democratic fundraising tool for X, on Twitter on Friday.
“Donald Trump threatens our democracy. First, he questioned our election system. Then, he questioned our justice system. Now, you can stop him,” she posted.
Trump’s campaign said it raised more than $34.8 million in the six hours after the guilty verdict — half of what the campaign raised in the entire month of April.
It said the money came mostly from smaller donors, with 30% of the funds coming through WinRed, a Republican fundraising platform.
Trump’s reality social account posted fundraising appeals within minutes of his conviction.
“I am a political prisoner,” one post read.
His campaign has also sent emails asking for donations.
Trump campaign senior adviser Brian Hughes said supporters were signed up for Trump’s digital fundraising system following the guilty verdict Thursday afternoon.
The increase in traffic causes occasional delays, he said.
