Republicans Rally Around Donald Trump After FBI Searches His Property

Over the years, minor cracks in political support forDonald Trumphave emerged.

Disgruntled Republican primary voters began considering a new presidential candidate. Republican donors addressed harmful revelations uncovered by the January 6 committee. Several party leaders have pondered challenging Trump for the party's 2024 nomination.

But after the FBI executed a search warrant at his Florida mansion, Republicans quickly banded together in support of the former president.

READ MORE: FBI Followed This Checklist to Obtain Trump's Mar-a-Lago Search Warrant

Florida Government. Ron DeSantis, who likely represents Trump's most powerful potential first challenger, has described the Biden administration as an "administration" and called Monday's Maralago search for improperly obtained classified documents an "administration." "Another escalation of the weaponization of federal agencies against political opponents of the United States."

Republican Pressure to Portray Trump as Victim of Politicized Justice Department Justifies Investigation A federal judge who ignored potential criminal activity. It overlooked Trump's role in hiring the now-maligned FBI Director Chris Wray, who also served as a senior official in the Republican-led Justice Department. Meanwhile, Biden's White House said it had no prior knowledge of the search.

But a strong defense is a renewed reminder of the former president's enduring dominance over the Republican Party, driven by his ability to capitalize on grievances against the government and other institutions among many Republican voters. It's something you can do.

From the impeachment of the times and the riots that overcame the consequences. His allies said on Tuesday that the FBI search would only reinforce his position.

"The sooner he starts his campaign, the better," Indiana Republican Rep. Jim Banks, chairman of the Republican Research Commission, said in an interview.

Banks spent several hours with Trump at his vacation home in Bedminster, New Jersey, about 12 on Tuesday night. He was one of the 100 Republican congressmen. During a meal that included steak, scallops, mashed potatoes, salad and Trump cookies, the group talked about the upcoming midterm elections and the 2024 presidential election, Banks said.

"His heart is made up," the former president told lawmakers about the 2024 election campaign, adding, "We will all be happy with his decision."

READ MORE: Donald Trump supporters descend on Mar-a-Lago to protest FBI raid

FBI Search It appears that a shift has been triggered among Trump advisers who had personally urged Trump to wait until after the midterms to announce his intentions to run for the presidency again. Suddenly, some of those same advisers urged him to start campaigning before the November elections.

Mr. Trump stirred up such speculation by posting a video of his style campaign on his social media just hours after the search. "The best is yet to come," he said.

He continued the fundraising call, stating, "It's important to know that my home wasn't the only one that was violated. The homes of all the patriotic Americans I've fought for. It was," he declared. For.

In Columbia, South Carolina, Senator Lindsay Graham said she had spoken with Trump and was convinced another campaign would take place.

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"One thing I can tell you," said Graham. . "I believed he would run before. I hold my beliefs stronger now." , countered without evidence the GOP's allegations of political interference. Some have accused the Republican Party of straying from its longstanding commitment to "law and order."

"The FBI Director was appointed by Donald Trump," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Asked if the raid could hurt the Democrats in her November election, she said: Election impact. No no no no no. "

Read more: Trump says FBI raided Florida property.

Some of Trump's most vocal critics of the Republican Party still hesitate to accept the former president. It was unclear how the new developments would sway Republican voters and independents dissatisfied with the divisive leadership of

, a former federal prosecutor and president of the 2024 Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, one of many Republicans considering a presidential election, said Tuesday that a federal judge had to approve the warrant.

The president is presumed innocent," Christie said in an interview. "On the other hand, the prosecutor's motives cannot be immediately denied simply because he belongs to another political party."

"This is an extraordinary move, and there must be some pretty amazing facts underlying it. If anything, they have every right to do it."

Some Republican officials appear to be expressing continued concern about Mr. Trump by refusing to consider it at all.

A relatively short list of Republican leaders who remained silent on Tuesday afternoon was led by Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. But the Kentucky Republican finally said: Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice should have already provided the American public with answers, and they must do so now.

An overwhelming majority, from Republican House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to DeSantis, accused the Biden administration of "weaponizing" the Justice Department and ignored potential misconduct by Trump.

"Now Republicans are saying Trump should be above the law and Trump 2.0 is revenge. ,” wrote Republican commentator Charlie Sykes, a frequent Trump critic.

Read more: Trump says FBI executed search warrant at his Mar-a-Lago home

Mike Pence, who is gearing up for the former vice president's own presidential campaign, shares the "deep concern of millions of Americans" about the raid on Trump's private residence. said there is.

But he fell short of attacking his FBI. Instead, Attorney General Merrick Garland said, "The American people should be given a full explanation as to why this action was taken, and he must do so immediately."

Republican Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri have aggressively denounced the Justice Department on behalf of Trump.

Hawley called the search an "unprecedented attack on democratic norms and the rule of law." He called for Garland's resignation or impeachment and the dismissal of FBI Director Wray.

Cotton said Garland had "weaponized" the Justice Department against his political opponents. "This has consequences," he warned.

And Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, a Republican considering running for president in 2024, called the search "unprecedented and alarming." . However, like Pence, she added, "We need to review the Presumed Cause Affidavit before making any judgment."

The search reveals how classified documents were previously in Mar-a-Lago in White House records. We've stepped up our months-long investigation into what was put in the box. Another grand jury is investigating Trump and his allies' efforts to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

In his late June, long before the latest developments, 48% of U.S. adults voted Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. He said he should be charged with the crime. Associate Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

Views on Trump's criminal liability predictably collapsed in line with party lines, with 86% of Democrats and 10% of Republicans believing Trump should be indicted. Still, the fact that nearly half of the country believed he should be indicted marks a surprising position for the former president, and the difficulties he could face in his next run in the White House. points out.

Former Trump adviser Sam Nambug said Monday's FBI investigation was all but certain of Trump's standing among Republican primary voters, especially those who have begun to lean towards DeSantis and another newcomer. said to strengthen the But if Trump is finally indicted for federal crimes linked to the investigation, as Mr. Nambug predicts, the former president's ability to win more voters in the 2024 general election will be huge. You may get hit.

"Despite everyone's fantasies, from Sean Hannity to Steve Bannon, I can promise you that the person being indicted will not be elected President of the United States," Numberg said. said Mr.

But at least on Tuesday, Republicans were squarely backing their undisputed leader, Trump. .

One of the most vocal Trump supporters in Congress, Georgia Rep. seemed to be doing

"I've talked a lot about the civil war within the Republican Party, and I'm leaning into it because America is finally fearless in achieving America First."&because we need effective Republicans," she tweeted. "Last night's tyrannical FBI raid on Mull unites us in ways I've never seen."

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