Former President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of prosecutors during a private luncheon in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday. In audio obtained from a Republican donor, Trump can be heard using profanity to refer to special counsel Jack Smith and accusing Democrats of running what he called “a Gestapo administration.”
Smith is currently prosecuting federal cases related to Trump’s handling of classified documents and his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
Trump reportedly referred to Smith using derogatory language and continued to ridicule another prosecutor, District Attorney Fani T. Willis of Georgia’s Fulton County, mocking her past relationship with former special prosecutor Nathan Wade.
The remarks made by Trump at the luncheon underscore the central role that his legal battles are playing in his efforts to secure a second term in the White House. Trump’s ongoing confrontations with prosecutors have become a focal point of his political narrative, as he seeks to portray himself as a victim of what he perceives as partisan persecution.
The heightened tensions between Trump and prosecutors highlight the polarized nature of American politics and the deepening divide between the former president and his opponents. As Trump continues to challenge the legal scrutiny he faces, his rhetoric against prosecutors and Democrats is likely to remain a prominent feature of his political strategy.