President Biden plans to formally address former President Donald Trump’s New York criminal hush money case from the White House when the verdict is delivered to make it appear that his statement isn’t political.
The statement from the Oval Office will be tailored to the jury’s decision, sources close to the decision told Politico anonymously in a report that came out Friday.
If the former president is convicted, the Biden campaign will argue that Mr. Trump isn’t fit for office, and social media headlines could read “Convicted Felon Donald Trump.” Other attacks are planned depending on if Mr. Trump is acquitted or there’s a hung jury.
A decision regarding the exact time of the speech has not been decided, the sources said.
Mr. Biden’s reelection campaign has mostly stayed quiet regarding Mr. Trump’s criminal trial. However, when the president announced this month that he would be willing to participate in a debate with the former president, he made a quick jab at the trial.
“I hear you’re free on Wednesdays,” Mr. Biden said in an X video. Wednesdays were the typical days off for the trial.
The Democrats took it a step further, selling “Free on Wednesdays” shirts on the Biden-Harris campaign website for $32.
Closing arguments in the trial started Tuesday, and the jury could reach a verdict as early as next week.
The Biden campaign enlisted actor Robert De Niro and two Jan. 6 Capitol Police officers outside the Manhattan courthouse Tuesday.
Mr. De Niro slammed the former president, saying he will “destroy” the country and the world if he wins in November.
“This is the time to stop him, by voting him out once and for all,” Mr. De Niro said. “If he gets in, I can tell you right now, he will never leave.”
The Washington Times reached out to the White House and the Biden campaign for comment.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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