By Mark Gray
9:59pm PDT, Apr 24, 2023
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On April 4, 2023, former President Donald Trump was arrested and appeared in a Manhattan court in connection with an alleged hush money payments scheme involving adult film star Stormy Daniels that allegedly went down before the 2016 presidential election. While in court, the ex-POTUS pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and conspiracy. He is the first former president to face criminal charges. The court hearing came less than a week after Trump was indicted — an indictment that came nearly two weeks after the former POTUS said he would be arrested. Trump called the indictment "an attack on our country." On his way to court, he wrote on his Truth Social social media platform, "Heading to Lower Manhattan, the Courthouse. Seems so SURREAL — WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can't believe this is happening in America. MAGA!" Throughout the legal process, many celebrities and well-known names on both sides of the aisle reacted and voiced their opinions on social media…
Click through to see what's being said…
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"This arrest will unite the Republicans and make him the nominee," Bill Maher tweeted. He later added, "To put this in terms QAnon can understand: The Stormy is coming."
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"This will end badly," Meghan McCain tweeted on April 4. "You're all helping him. Martyring him. And probably re-electing him." On March 30, she added, "I like people who aren't indicted!"
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"I love my father and I love my country. Today I am pained for both. I appreciate the voices across the political spectrum expressing support and concern" –Ivanka Trump
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"I'm so bored with politics per se, but enjoy watching the shenanigans. The gambit behind this current circus in New York is to help Trump win the Republican nomination, I think. And all because they think Trump is the only guy Biden can stay in his basement and still beat," James Woods tweeted. He later added, "No public trial for a presidential candidate? So even the information stream will be strangled and thus controlled by one political party. The most grievous attack on the checks and balances inherent in our constitution in play right out of the gate."
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"Y'all keep saying 'c** dumpster' like it's a bad thing. It's definitely more fun being under my sexy man instead of under arrest." –Stormy Daniels
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"Pray for President Trump" —Kyle Rittenhouse
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"I think it's horrible … I think it helps Trump politically … but it's horrible for the country. And it's gonna be horrible for him to go through. And it's going to be horrible for us to go through," Megyn Kelly said on her April 3 podcast of former President Trump's then-looming arrest. She also complained that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has not been criminally prosecuted, though she didn't explain what she thinks Hillary did that's similar to Donald's alleged crimes. "It's just so aggravating because she's gotten away with so much … she's been using lawyers to do her dirty work forever."
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"34 felony charges. 34 felony charges. Our politics and the media for that matter have never been the same since this man stepped into the political arena. We the people deserve so much better. We deserve leaders with integrity, with honor, who put public service above all else" –Maria Shriver
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"People around him trying to spin indictment and arrest, saying that it is good for Trump. That he is upbeat and defiant. None of the glimpses we've seen of him reflect that. They show the same, 'this is very bad s***' face of any rational person in same circumstances." –Ana Navarro-Cardenas
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"Convinced FoxNews would rather have a Civil War than lose even a smidge of market share…" –Jon Stewart
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"trump under arrest at New York criminal court. I just wanted to write it… UNDER ARREST IN NYC" –Ellen Barkin
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"After today's Gilligan's Island court episode, every Republican running in the primary against DJT has become completely and without question insignificant in this race. Fat Alvin created a martyr today, and gave Trump more momentum than he could have ever asked for! Perfect" —John Rich
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"Ain't it GRAND! Thank you @ManhattanDA! Thank you NYC! Gotta say it's *chef's kiss* That he's been arrested in NEW YORK, the city he thought he OWNED! We are ALL laughing at you @realDonaldTrump! & it isn't a sad day. It's a GLORIOUS day that proves NO ONE is above the law!" –Yvette Nicole Brown
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"He has probably already sold the nation's top secret docs" –Mia Farrow of Donald Trump
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"This is third world prosecutorial misconduct. It is the opportunistic targeting of a political opponent in a campaign year," Eric Trump tweeted after the indictment. On April 4, he wrote, "Alvin Bragg has shut down the entire city, called up 38,000 NYPD police officers, closed down the FDR Drive and is spending an estimated $200 million of city funds, all for a $130,000 NDA. I never thought I would see this level of corruption in the United States."
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"Alvin Bragg is the New King Of New York!!! Harlem's Finest #AlvinBragg" –Michael Rapaport
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"So if #Trump is arrested does that now mean he's a 'Thug' too??" –Tamar Braxton
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"Since #Trumps got more charges and more investigations than #YoungThug, I guess that makes him #OldThug!" DL Hughley tweeted. He added, "There were so few #Trump supporters at his arraignment, they could've all rode in the same #DoubleWide"
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"Trump's team says request for cameras in courtroom should be denied 'because it will create a circus-like atmosphere at the arraignment.' Wow! That's hilarious, coming from the Head Clown himself! Or maybe we should call him 'The Ringmeister'!" –Bette Midler
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"Look for Trump's arraignment screed to be among the most spectacular of his long canon of grievance diatribes!" –Al Franken
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"i've been waiting for trump to be under arrest since i was 14 and lived in dc prayers work" –Claudia Conway
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"A lot of people seem [100%] certain the charges against Donald Trump are an outrageous assault on justice, freedom and democracy – without yet knowing what they are," Piers Morgan tweeted on April 3 before the former president's indictment was unsealed. One day earlier, Piers tweeted — in response to a report revealing that the Trump 2024 presidential election campaign had raised $5 million in donations since news of the indictment broke — "Incredible. Trump's best chance of being re-elected president might be if he gets jailed & campaigns from his prison cell."
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"Although accountability is vitally important and no one is above the law—this is a really sad day for The United States Of America. #TrumpIndictment" –Alyssa Milano
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Former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr — who served under former President Donald Trump — told "Fox News Sunday" on April 2 that he does't believe the former POTUS should testify in the hush-money payment criminal case against him. "Generally, I think it's a bad idea to go on the stand and I think it's a particularly bad idea for Trump because he lacks all self-control. And it would be very difficult to prepare him and keep him testifying in a prudent fashion," the former AG said.
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"The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head. It is un-American. The Soros-backed Manhattan District Attorney has consistently bent the law to downgrade felonies and to excuse criminal misconduct. Yet, now he is stretching the law to target a political opponent. Florida will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor and his political agenda." –Ron DeSantis
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"When she heard [about the indictment], Story Daniels was like, 'Oh, so this is what it feels like to be satisfied.'" –late night host Jimmy Fallon
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"Love our Opening Day lineup:
Leading off: Alvin Bragg Stormy Daniels hush money. On deck: Fani Willis Georgia election interference.
In the hole: Jack Smith Stolen Top Secret documents.
Batting clean up: Merrick Garland Incitement of an insurrection.
Play ball!!!" –Billy Baldwin
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"Any day – an arch criminal fascist who happened to be the president of the US – is indicted – is a great day," John Cusack tweeted, later adding, "The trump Mug shot – yes … not a dream." John also tweeted, "Ok – press let's stop saying AG garland has a momentous 'decision' to make – he has two choices – uphold the rule of law – or make trump a king – He has no choice." He added, "Trump Arrested. Stop saying this is a sad day – this is a great day!"
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"Trump Indicted! First among many!" —Rob Reiner
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"This isn't just the radical left weaponizing the government to target their political enemies, this is them weaponizing the government to interfere in the 2024 election to stop Trump. The only solution is to shove it down their throats and put him back in the White House!!! #MAGA" –Donald Trump Jr.
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"With Trump facing arraignment, I am thankful federal law enforcement under Merrick Garland arrested over 1,000 insurrectionists from Jan. 6, sending a strong signal that violent, anti-government protests from MAGA and militias will not be tolerated." —George Takei
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"They are so scared of President Trump because he will win once again for the third time." —Antonio Sabato Jr.
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"NYT reporting former President Donald J. Trump has been indicted by Manhattan grand jury, a terrible idea, unfair. I'm with Prof Alan Dershowitz right now who just told me, 'this stretches criminal statutes beyond any plausible constitutional boundaries.' He's right, this sucks." —Geraldo Rivera
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"A sad day for America." —Rudy Giuliani
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"The Democrat Party's hatred for Donald Trump knows no bounds. The 'substance' of this political persecution is utter garbage. This is completely unprecedented and is a catastrophic escalation in the weaponization of the justice system." —Ted Cruz
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"Trump wasn't indicted because he's got political enemies. He wasn't indicted because he's a celeb. He wasn't indicted because of NYC bias. He was indicted because he is and has always been a criminal. This isn't hard. When you constantly break laws, you pay the price." –Josh Gad
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"Just remember, they're only after Donald Trump because he fights for you." –Kimberly Guilfoyle
