Former President Trump said Thursday revenge “can be justified,” the latest instance of the presumptive GOP nominee leaving the door open to going after his opponents, even as he argued the country is worse off after his criminal trial in New York.
Trump sat for an interview with Phil McGraw, host of the TV show “Dr. Phil,” who suggested to the former president he didn’t have time to “get even” with his critics.
“Well, revenge does take time, I will say that. And sometimes revenge can be justified, Phil, I have to be honest. Sometimes it can,” Trump responded.
“I think the country is really worse for what they’ve done, and I think you see that when you look at the poll numbers,” Trump continued. “When you see that almost $400 million has poured in since this horrible decision was made. That was a few days ago. Numbers that nobody’s ever heard of in politics before. It’s a great honor. The people of our country get it.”
Trump was found guilty last week by a jury on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal alleged affairs during his 2016 campaign. It makes him the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony.
The former president has railed against his legal woes, calling it “election interference” and claiming it is being orchestrated by the Biden White House. There is no evidence President Biden or his aides have had any involvement in Trump’s legal cases.
In the days since the verdict, Trump has repeatedly suggested it would be fair game and he would be justified in targeting his opponents if he is reelected in November.
Trump told Fox News’s Sean Hannity on Wednesday he would have “every right to go after them” after his own prosecution.
The former president told Newsmax on Tuesday it was “very possible” Democrats could face prosecution down the road.