PALM BEACH, Florida — Donald Trump compared President Joe Biden’s administration to Nazi Germany’s secret police force in remarks at a private, closed-door donor retreat Saturday afternoon.
The former president’s comments came as he talked about his own legal troubles, attacking prosecutors in the cases and lamenting the recent indictments of several of his former top aides in Arizona as well. 11 so called fake voters From the 2020 elections.
“These guys are running a Gestapo administration,” Trump said, according to audio of the luncheon provided to NBC News. “And that’s the only thing they have. “And in their opinion that is the only way they will win.”
“Once I was accused, I said, OK, now the gloves have to come off,” Trump said. Biden, he said, is “the worst president in the history of our country.” He is completely incompetent. He is very crooked. He is the Manchurian candidate, he accepts huge amounts of money from China, Russia, Ukraine and many other countries. He is a scoundrel.”
The former president said he doesn’t let his legal troubles bother him too much.
“If you care too much, you start to suffocate. And in a way, I don’t care. Only you know this, life is life,” he said.
However, he admitted that he was surprised when he was accused.
“Once I was indicted, I said, Holy s—. I’ve just been convicted. Me. I’ve been convicted,” Trump said.
He also called special counsel Jack Smith, who is prosecuting the two federal cases against Trump, an “evil thug” and “insane.”
The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump made his remarks Saturday afternoon at his Mar-a-Lago club, as hundreds of donors gathered there for the Republican National Committee’s spring retreat.
The former president has limited time to campaign because he has to sit in a Manhattan courtroom four days a week for his criminal trial There, it relates to a hush money payment to an adult film star around the 2016 election.
Many of the distinguished guests expected at the retreat this weekend include Vice Presidential CandidateWhich includes South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, New York Representative Elise Stefanik, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Ohio Senator JD Vance, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Florida Representative Byron Donalds and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
trump yet to move beyond initial phase Investigating a running mate, as NBC News reported. The top contenders have not yet received detailed questionnaires or other requests for information to help finalize the shortlist.
At the luncheon, Trump brought all of these guests on stage — except Noem, who left early according to two people in attendance — along with several other elected officials, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La.
“By the end of it, there were a lot of people on the stage,” a Republican source who attended the luncheon told NBC News.
According to the audio recording, Trump praised Stefanik for her role in challenging former Harvard University President Claudine Gay, who resigned After facing scrutiny for his testimony, he testified at a congressional hearing on anti-Semitism on campus and following allegations of plagiarism in his academic work.
“You destroyed her,” Trump said. “She did very well, everyone said … she was going to be the vice presidential nominee.”
Vance, who was a prominent critic of Trump while promoting his “Hillbilly Elegy” memoir in 2016, “turned out to be unbelievable,” the former president said. is scheduled for senator hold a fundraiser With Trump in Ohio this month.
“You know he was not a supporter of mine,” Trump said of Vance. “He was saying things like, ‘That guy is absolutely disastrous!'”
Scott, whose campaign for the GOP presidential nomination failed before the Iowa caucuses, “did a good job,” Trump said. “But as a surrogate she’s incredible.”
“And you know what he said to me? “I never felt comfortable talking about myself,” he said. There is something good in this. Talking about me has never bothered me. I am the opposite.”
Trump also acknowledged Rubio and Donalds, his potential vice presidential pick from Florida, where he also lives. Constitution bans By allowing the electors to vote for the President and Vice President from their respective states.
Rubio, Trump said, is “a brilliant guy” and “definitely” he’s being considered, “even if we have a little problem. It’s a little problem in Florida with these Florida guys, I’ve got your back.” Gotta be honest with you – including that boy, Byron.”
Burgum, a former software entrepreneur who became the first of his high-profile rivals to endorse Trump, drew praise for his personal wealth.
“He’s a very rich man, he’s made a lot of money,” Trump said. “I’ll always say, ‘That guy is really impressive.'”
Trump also offered a shoutout to Noem, who, although she didn’t take the stage, called out the governor of South Dakota — who has been under fire Since revealing in an upcoming book that she shot and killed a family dog – “somebody I love.”
“He’s been with me and a supporter and I’ve been a supporter of his for a long time,” Trump said.
Trump also said he would allow anyone who donated $1 million on the spot to come on stage. Two people took him up on the offer, including a woman who declared: “Donald J. Trump is the man God chose.”
Dasha Burns, Abigail Brooks and Olympia Sonnier reporting from Palm Beach, Florida; Henry J. from Cleveland, Ohio. Gomez; and Amanda Terkel, Alec Hernandez and Nnamdi Egwunwu from Washington, D.C., in Palm Beach.