Before delving into Donald Trump and his MAGA allies in Congress ramping up threatening rhetoric after he was convicted on 34 felony counts of business fraud in a Manhattan courtroom, Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank ridiculed the former president for whining that he is a "political prisoner."
Contrasting President Joe Biden's stirring D-Day anniversary where he praised the heroism of the soldiers who stormed Normandy 80 years ago, with Trump using the day to attend a rally in Arizona where the highlight was him encouraging his adoring fans to chant "b------t," the columnist said the difference between the two men could not be any starker.
Pointing out that Trump "serves no cause greater than himself," he reminded readers that Trump reportedly called U.S. servicemen who fought and died for their country "losers," with Milbank adding, "Will Americans recognize their country in the dark and desperate portrait Trump painted?"
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With that he took up Trump's ridiculous claim he is a "political prisoner" in a fundraising letter where he also added, "I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG! They’ve raided my home, arrested me, took my mugshot, AND NOW THEY’VE JUST CONVICTED ME!”
Sharpening his knife, Millbank shot back, "He was sentenced to play round after round of arduous golf — including some very challenging par 5s! He was forced to endure the harsh confines of his triplex at Trump Tower, his compound at Mar-a-Lago and his Boeing 757."
"He was even subjected to the most cruel and unusual punishments: a 90-minute interview with 'Fox & Friends,' an hour with Sean Hannity and even a harrowing one-on-one with Newsmax," he continued, "Finally, he was transported all the way to Phoenix on Thursday and forced to experience the adoration of ardent supporters at a campaign event. And you thought Alexei Navalny had it bad."
He concluded, "Of course, Trump, though a convicted felon, is not in prison, nor is he likely to be when he’s sentenced next month. In reality, he undertook all of the suffering mentioned above of his own free will. But he sees great value in proclaiming himself a 'political prisoner,' as his campaign did in a fundraising pitch almost immediately after he was convicted last week."
