Right-wing media react to report of Trump's indictment
Written by Media Matters Staff
Published
Updated
The New York Times has reported that a Manhattan grand jury voted to indict former President Donald Trump for his role in paying hush money to Stormy Daniels, citing four sources. The paper notes that the indictment is currently under seal and will be announced in coming days. Right-wing media had loudly complained about the looming indictment in recent weeks, in particular focusing their ire on Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney. Below are key examples of Fox News and other right-wing media reactions to the report.
This report will be continually updated throughout the evening of March 30.
On Fox News, the report was met on air with audible gasps.
Fox host Jesse Watters called the indictment a “disgrace” and said the country would not stand for it.
Watters also suggested Trump was indicted for “sex.”
Fox host Greg Gutfeld called Bragg “the MAGA Republican of the year,” telling Trump to make his mugshot his campaign poster.
Rumble host Donald Trump Jr. called the indictment “communist-level shit.”
Outkick’s Clay Travis called it a part of Democrats’ “unprecedented authoritarian attacks” and claimed the indictment is the beginning of them turning this country into “a third world, banana republic.”
Judicial Watch’s Tom Fitton called the indictment an “act of pure corruption and election rigging.”
Trump's son Eric Trump called the indictment “third world prosecutorial misconduct” and “the opportunistic targeting of a political opponent in a campaign year.”
Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk complained about Bragg, adding: “WITCH HUNT!!”
Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis said the court was “weaponizing the justice system against a political opponent” and that “no one deserves to be politically prosecuted.”
On War Room, conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec said that “every single red-blooded American is about to get activated peacefully and patriotically.”
Podcaster Liz Wheeler claimed that Trump's indictment was meant to “distract from a transgender mass shooter.”
Right-wing commentator Bernard Kerik claimed the indictment means that “we have just become a Third World banana republic!”
Former Real America's Voice host David Brody claimed that “the left just made Donald Trump a political martyr as well as the 47th President of the United States.”
Conspiracy theorist Dinesh D’Souza — who knows a thing or two about being indicted — said Trump was indicted “on manifestly bogus charges” and speculated, “Are we officially living in a banana republic?”
Fox News' Leo Terrell said Trump had “two Politically motivated impeachments and now a political prosecution” but is “more popular than ever before.”
Newsmax’s John Cardillo called the indictment “a constitutional crisis” and claimed that “we are watching the political weaponization of our entire criminal justice system.”
Breitbart's Joel Pollack called the indictment “an assault on democracy far worse than the Capitol riot.”
The Federalist's David Marcus claimed the indictment is “absolutely political persecution of Donald Trump."
Conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer called it “a dark day in America” and claimed that “the DOJ & Manhattan DA have declared war on President Trump and his supporters.”
Trump Jr. said that the “radical left” is trying “to interfere in the 2024 election to stop Trump” and that “the only solution is to shove it down their throats and put him back in the White House!!!”
Turning Point USA's Benny Johnson: “Democrats just turned Donald Trump into Tupac.”
Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani called it “a sad day for America.”
Conservative commentator Will Chamberlain claimed that “this will end with multiple Bidens in federal prison.”
Right-wing digital strategist and former Daily Caller staffer Logan Hall alluded that there would be “retribution" "soon.”
Students for Trump founder Ryan Fournier warned, “We will come for Joe and his son when they leave office. Just wait.”
Watters said, “I don’t think the Left understands what they’re getting themselves into” because this indictment “really lights a fire under this country.”
Fox News’ Jonathan Turley called the indictment of Trump a “raw political prosecution."
Some posts on pro-Trump message boards are threatening violence.
Conservative influencer Rogan O’Handley, who goes by “DC Draino,” claimed that the indictment is meant to “distract everyone” from “the whole Trans Terrorist thing."
Fox News contributor Mollie Hemingway likened Trump's indictment to Stalinist Russia.
Watters suggested that “fair citizen[s] of ... this country” should not live in “Democrat-run cities anymore” because “if you're political, they'll bring false charges against you.”
On Telegram, QAnon-supporting accounts The Patriot Voice and BioClandestine claimed the indictment made Trump “a political martyr.”
Pro-Trump commentator Matt Schlapp said Trump's indictment had “corrupted the judicial system and lost the trust of millions.”
Fox News host Dan Bongino claimed that the indictment of Trump is proof that “we're living in a police state.” Watters also said to Bongino, "You’re looking a little emotional. I feel the same way.”
In private pro-Trump Facebook groups, some users have called for others to “#RiseUp” or claimed that the indictment has started — or brought us close to — a “civil war.”
Watters resorted to body-shaming Bragg.
Watters reiterated that Trump was being prosecuted “over sex,” saying that today will “go down as a dark day for America.”
Watters also called for revenge on Democrats “the next time a Republican gets in the White House”
Watters said that the timing of the indictment “reeks,” adding that "a couple days ago, you had a trans mass shooter and then all of the sudden, after we heard that the grand jury is going home for a month, they drop this?”
During a news read with Fox “straight news” anchor Trace Gallagher, the chyron on the screen read “Third World Banana Republic.”
Fox host Tucker Carlson appeared to hint at violence.
Carlson also claimed that the indictment was more of an “assault on our system” than the attack on January 6.
Carlson said there would be “retaliation from red states.”
Glenn Beck appeared on Carlson's show and pushed some very Glenn Beck-ish conspiracy theories.
Carlson also hosted former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, who “was convicted in 2011 on 17 corruption charges. Some involved soliciting bribes in exchange for the U.S. Senate seat vacated upon President Barack Obama’s inauguration, while others dealt with schemes in which he demanded campaign donations in exchange for signing racetrack legislation, approving a transportation project, and approving funding for doctors at a hospital." Trump would later pardon him.
Speaking with Carlson, BlazeTV host Jason Whitlock claimed that Democrats were “agitating for unrest” with the indictment.
Eric Trump told Fox host Sean Hannity that his father “deserves a pass.”
Fox host Mark Levin said the indictment was indicative of tyranny.
Levin elaborated on his radio show.
Levin also appeared on Hannity, saying that the indictment was a “declaration of war.”
Fox News host Pete Hegseth said that Trump's mugshot would be iconic.
Fox host Laura Ingraham blamed President Joe Biden for now somehow stopping the indictment.