Reacting to news that the FBI raided the Florida private residence ofDonald Trumpin an "unprecedented" move that prompted threats of reprisal , sent shockwaves across America from former US presidents and their allies.
There have also been calls for accountability from opponents, with speculation that it could prompt them to announce their candidacy ahead of the key midterm elections in November, with plans to return in 2024. Speculation has grown as to what Trump's plans to run mean.
Court raid on Trump'sMar-a-Lagomansion linked to lengthy investigation into whether he mishandled classified government documents upon leaving the White House. seemed to be doing
Trump says "Mar-a-Lago, a beautiful home in Palm Beach, Florida, is currently under siege, raided and occupied by a large group of FBI agents." Hours after the announcement, top Republicanleaders rallied in his defense as America's already divided politics were thrown into chaos by the backlash to the raid.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has threatened to investigate the Justice Department if his party gains control of the House next year.
} "We've seen enough," said the California Republican in a statement posted online. "The Justice Department has reached an intolerable state of weaponized politicization."
He went further, saying that if he wields the gavel next year, House Republicans will vote for Congress against Attorney General Merrick Garland. He hinted that he would launch an investigation. "Attorney General Garland, please keep your papers and clear your schedule," he wrote.
Democrats welcomed the raid, lobbying the State Department to bring criminal charges against the former president's role in the January 6 attacks on the US Capitol.
"It's a terrible precedent for the Justice Department to investigate a former president of the United States," said Ted, a Democrat from California who served as Trump's manager in his second impeachment trial. Rep. Liu said. "The only bad precedent is @TheJusticeDept not doing an investigation because he happens to be a former president. No one is above the law."
Democrats also , accused Republicans of hypocrisy after years of calling for an indictment of Trump rival Hillary Clinton in 2016. Lock it up," encouraged chants.
Rep. Don Beyer, Democratic Rep. of Virginia, said of McCarthy: Political enemy.
"These same people talk as if Trump is above the law. He's not above the law."
Monday Night In a Fox News interview, Trump's son Eric Trump said the search was done because "the National Archives wanted to see if they had any documents in Donald Trump's possession."
FBIThe young Trump, who has lashed out at the FBI, said he believed the raid was an attempt to stop his father from running for office again in 2024.
– And I’m saying this for the first time – Honestly this country can’t survive this nonsense so I hope he goes out and beats these guys up again. I hope we can beat him,' he said. will benefit him politically, fueling suspicion among his supporters against federal law enforcement officials whom Trump and his allies have long accused of being corrupt and bigoted. But it also helped rally his allies and potential 2024 Republican rivals to his side. Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who is being viewed as a possible candidate, said the search of Trump's beachfront property was "a further escalation in the weaponization of federal agencies against the administration's political opponents."
The Republican insinuation that Biden was behind the raid appears unfounded. The White House said it was unaware of the raid before it happened.As president, Mr. Biden came after years of pressure for Mr. Trump to press his attorney general to advance his political agenda, and the Justice Department
As news of the search for Mar-a-Lago reverberates across the country, a crowd throngs outside Trump's luxury resort in Florida, his supporters waved the American flag and held up a campaign sign with Mike Pence's name crossed out.
Far-right Trump supporters online were outraged by the FBI's search for Mara in his Lago. In the hours following the disclosure, references to a "civil war"skyrocketed on Twitterwhile Maga and Qanon's forums lit up with violent rhetoric and threats of civil war, with striking similarities.Analysts and reporters said:to the types of activity observed on these platforms leading up to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. The top comment on pro-Trump message boards was: "Lock and load."
Trump, who was in New York during the search, tried to capitalize on the anger of his supporters with a series of fundraising calls that referred to his raid. "Please donate immediately," he wrote in one such email. I briefly explained about the raid.
"Another day in paradise," Trumptold his supporters on Monday night. "Today is a strange day. You've probably read it, but it's very important."
