Former President Donald Trump’s entourage continued to grow as more high-profile politicians attended his criminal trial in New York on Tuesday — including House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Johnson, the highest-ranking Republican in Congress, was in criminal court with Trump on Tuesday morning. After traveling with Trump in his motorcade leaving Trump Tower, the speaker read a statement at nearby Collect Pond Park, where he said he was “deeply concerned” about “this sham of a trial.”
“I told him I wanted to be here to denounce what is a travesty of justice,” Johnson continued, “President Trump is a friend and I wanted to be here to support him.”
His appearance comes less than a week after Trump helped save Johnson’s speakership after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a strong Trump ally, tried to remove him. Trump spoke privately with Greene and urged her to drop her push to remove Johnson — even though Greene triggered a vote to remove him, which Democrats and Republicans overwhelmingly rejected.
Throughout his comments, Johnson followed Trump’s script, where he discussed the length of the trial that prevented Trump from campaigning.
“They are doing this intentionally to keep him here and out of the campaign,” Johnson said.
In addition to Johnson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Vivek Ramaswamy and GOP Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills also appeared in court Tuesday and also spoke to reporters at Collect Pond Park.
Burgum, who has never commented on any of Trump’s criminal allegations during the presidential primary campaign, was quick to call the trial “election interference.”
“I think one thing we all know is that this was a sham trial, but when you have the opportunity to see this up close and personal, you can see that it is actually a sham trial,” Burgum said, speaking about the time spent in court this morning.
“I think the only conclusion, of course, is that he is interfering in elections and is tying up the president for being on the campaign trail.”
Ramaswamy vowed to continue supporting Trump if he is found guilty – later saying that others should do the same.
“I am ashamed, as an American citizen, to sit here in a courtroom watching the former leader of the free world, and let’s be honest, probably the next leader of the free world, sitting with the indignity in this dismal third-rate courtroom,” Ramaswamy said. outside the court.
Eric Trump, one of Trump’s sons, appeared in court to support his father. On Tuesday, his wife and RNC co-chair Lara Trump joined him in the proceedings.
“They see this as a sham,” Trump said of his guests after the court proceedings ended on Monday. “I think it’s a terrible thing what’s happening to democracy in this country.”
Trump was joined by guests on a crucial day in his court proceedings, as his former fixer Michael Cohen resumed his testimony. Cohen also testified on Monday.
Johnson attacked Cohen’s credibility.
“This is a man who is clearly on a mission of personal revenge and who is widely known as a witness who has a problem with the truth,” Johnson said.
Trump’s show of force comes as he attempts to maximize his campaign skills while sitting in court with his guests giving statements attacking the case and witnesses, something Trump is prohibited from doing under his gag order, while also promotes campaign talking points.
Some of those guests will also spend the night with Trump at a Manhattan fundraiser hosted by billionaire financier Howard Lutnick. The fundraiser will also feature vice presidential candidates, including Senators Tim Scott, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott and the governors. Doug Burgum and Kristi Noem.
The increase in court guests comes as Trump has previously complained about a lack of supporters around the court, blaming the lack of attendance on security procedures. Although supporters are allowed in the park in front of the courthouse, few showed up.
ABC News’ Kendall Ross and Kelsey Walsh contributed to this report.
