TRUMP CONVICTION GENERATES DIVERSE REACTIONS AT HOME AND ABROAD

Donald Trump, our 45th president, was convicted of all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to conceal a hush payment to an adult porn star in a New York State court a few days ago. His conviction generated a barrage of responses, not only at home, but across the globe. Predictably, domestic responses followed party lines. House Speaker Mike Johnson called the verdict a “shameful day in American history.” Ohio Senator J.D. Vance referred to it as a “disgrace to the judicial system.” The operative words have been “historic” and “unprecedented.” As a result, Republicans in Congress have been quick to enlist themselves to Mr. Trump’s campaign of vengeance and political retribution. Non Trump supporters like John Bolton and former Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, who suggested we respect the verdict and the legal process, were instantly bullied by Trump’s enforcers and told to “leave the party.” Former Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger summarized that: “The GOP is about to have a front runner or a nominee, who can’t vote for himself, who would be immediately discharged from the military in less than honorable conditions, [and] who can’t own a firearm.” However, what happens in the U.S. is consequential for what happens to the rest of the planet. Trump’s felony convictions in the middle of a closely contested election has become front-page news in many countries across the lobe. Foreign observers have already begun wondering if Mr. Trump, already a volatile force, would become even less likely to stay within the guardrails of normal politics and diplomacy if he wins the presidency again in November. As president, Trump often angered, flummoxed, or frightened national leaders around the world with sudden policy changes or unexpected announcements. But his brand of nationalist politics has won supporters on the global stage - particularly in parts of Europe on the political right. Right-wing anti-immigrant, nationalist politicians were quick to come to his defense. Viktor Orban - Prime Minister of Hungary - called him a “man of honor.” Matteo Salvini - Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister - expressed “solidarity and full support.” Nigel Farrage - pro brexit Trump supporter in the U.K. - suggested on social media that “Trump will now win big.” Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitri Peskov elaborated that it was now clear to the entire world that U.S. authorities were trying to eliminate political rivals “by all possible legal and illegal means.” Most European and Asian countries appeared to hold off expressing strong opinions. Many in Europe reacted cautiously, remaining anxious about a possible Trump victory in November and remembering his unpredictability and undermining of existing alliances. The news did dominate newspaper coverage across Europe. Many giving the conviction front-page, above the fold, treatment. Most focused on how the guilty verdict would galvanize Trump supporters rather than discussing the historic nature of the conviction itself. Dear Spiegel - (Germany) - headlined “guilty!” Repeated 34 times. Build - a German tabloid - - asked: “Victory for justice, or dark days for America?” The U.K. Daily Star proclaimed: “Orange Manbaby is guilty on all counts.” The Economist remained very sober with a headline: “Guilty as charged: the Disgrace of a Former American President.” Many of us consider the historically significant importance of this judicial event, not having had a U.S. president convicted in a court of law. However, depending on how we look at this, it is not entirely unusual. All of our Founding Fathers who signed off on the Declaration of Independence were essentially convicted felons, accused of high treason and sedition by the British crown and sentenced to death. Besides, Mr. Trump is not alone among political leaders who face legal trouble and who are convicted by the judicial systems in their own country: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was convicted of illegal campaign financing and given a one year sentence. Silvio Berlusconi, who served Italy multiple times as Prime Minister was convicted repeatedly for tax evasion and sex crimes in Italian courts. And Brazilian President Luis Ignacio Lula da Silva, who presided from 2003 to 2011, was convicted of bribery and spent 580 days in prison. He was re-elected to the presidency in 2022. Friend or foe - American voters will announce their verdict in November. Theo Wierdsma