Trump Vows To Stay In Race Even If Convicted Of Crimes: ‘I’ll Never Leave’

Former President Donald Trump vowed over the weekend that he will “never” drop out of the 2024 presidential race even if he is convicted on any of the criminal charges that he faces in multiple investigations.

Trump’s remarks come after a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida returned a 49-page indictment against the former president, charging him with 37 criminal counts, with 31 of those being the willful retention of national defense information. Other counts include conspiracy to obstruct justice, corruptly concealing documents or records, and making false statements.

“I’ll never leave,” Trump told POLITICO in an interview. “Look, if I would have left, I would have left prior to the original race in 2016. That was a rough one. In theory that was not doable.”

Trump said that he believes he will not be convicted and does not plan on taking a plea deal, but seemed to believe that he might get a deal “where they pay me some damages.”

No trial date has been set, but the case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, who Trump appointed to the Southern District of Florida bench in 2020. Trump is scheduled to appear before Cannon on Tuesday.

Special Counsel Jack Smith said during a press conference on Friday that the former president will get “a speedy trial on this matter, consistent with the public interest and the rights of the accused.”

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Even with a speedy trial, Trump’s unprecedented legal challenges are sure to affect his bid for another term in the White House. He also faces a trial in New York, where the Manhattan district attorney has secured an indictment against him for allegedly falsifying business records. He also faces a separate federal criminal investigation from Smith over his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election, and he faces a criminal investigation in Georgia over the same matter.

Related: 5 Key Takeaways From The Trump Indictment

Ron DeSantis Picks Up First Presidential Endorsement From Fellow Governor

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt endorsed Ron DeSantis for president on Saturday as the Florida governor campaigned in the state.

The endorsement marks the first endorsement DeSantis has received from a governor. Trump currently has endorsements from two governors — Jim Justice (WV) and Henry McMaster (SC).

“Governor DeSantis is a strong conservative and principled leader, and I am proud to endorse him for president,” Stitt said in a statement. “As fellow Governors during COVID, DeSantis did not surrender states’ rights and individual liberties over to groupthink. In this election cycle, Oklahomans will remember that DeSantis was one of the few who never backed down in the face of adversity, because DeSantis operated with dogged conviction and shared our values for a limited government and free country.”

Stitt called DeSantis a “proven leader,” adding that he “boldly delivered results for the people of Florida that laid the groundwork for a booming economy, an education system focused on student outcomes, and better infrastructure for working families.”

“To deliver these same results all across America and unwind the disastrous liberal mandates of the Biden administration is going to demand a candidate who can win and keep winning as a two-term president,” Stitt continued. “I am confident that leader is Ron DeSantis.”

In Florida and Oklahoma, we stand up for freedom — freedom to raise your family without radical ideology being crammed down your throat; freedom to worship and live your faith as you see fit; freedom to run your business and control your finances without corporate activists… pic.twitter.com/uvXOzpJYsD

— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) June 10, 2023

📍Tulsa, Oklahoma

Gov. DeSantis speaks to the crowd outside of the actual event once it overflowed inside🚨 pic.twitter.com/bwaXuu1TRs

— Dave Vasquez (@DaveVasquezFL) June 10, 2023

Stitt’s endorsement comes after 20 Oklahoma state legislators and former U.S. Congressman Jim Bridenstine, who also served as NASA Administrator under Trump and was a member of the House Freedom Caucus, endorsed DeSantis this week.

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The 20 endorsements included Senator Lonnie Paxton (SD 23), Senator Chris Kidd (SD 31), Senator Roland Pederson (SD 19), Senator John Michael Montgomery (SD 32), Senator Brent Howard (SD 38), Majority Floor Leader Representative Jon Echols (HD 90), Deputy Majority Leader Representative Trey Caldwell (HD 63), Deputy Floor Leader Representative John Pfeiffer (HD 38), Representative Mike Osburn (HD 81), Representative Neil Hays (HD 13), Representative Ryan Martinez (HD 39), Representative Nick Archer (HD 55), Representative Anthony Moore (HD 57), Representative Dell Kerbs (HD 26), Representative Mark Lepak (HD 9), Representative Josh West (HD 5), Representative Chris Kannady (HD 91), Representative Chad Caldwell (HD 40), Representative Terry O’Donnell (HD 23), and Representative Chris Sneed (HD 14).

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