House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Sunday that Americans should not take to the streets if the former president donald trump he is indicted for his role in a hush money scheme to an adult film star.
“I don’t think people should be protesting this, no,” McCarthy said in response to questions from reporters at the start of republicansannual retreat in Orlando, Florida. “We want calm out there.”
McCarthy made the comments a day after Trump predicted that he would be arrested as part of a lengthy investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Bragg has signaled in recent days that his office could soon file charges against Trump, a historic moment and the first time a former president would be indicted on criminal charges.
Trump on Saturday called on his supporters to protest and “TAKE BACK OUR NATION,” a missive some critics say harkens back to his rhetoric before the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The Speaker of the House, a fierce supporter of the former president, appeared to reject those claims Sunday, saying Trump’s calls for protests were not actually calls for protests.
“I think President Trump, if you talked to him, he doesn’t believe that either,” McCarthy said. “He’s not speaking in a hurtful way, and no one should.”
“The last thing we want … is someone putting their thumb in the balance simply because they disagree with someone else’s political opinion,” McCarthy added. “That’s what’s wrong, and that’s what makes people angry.”
The New York Times’ maggie haberman reported on Sunday that Trump is “very anxious” about the possible impeachment. She reported last week, his campaign is gearing up to lash out at Bragg and the prosecutors in his office if charges are filed.
