Donald Trump Trial Verdict Sparks MAGA Outrage

Supporters of former President Donald Trump‘s MAGA movement erupted into outrage after a New York jury made the ex-president a convicted felon.

Trump was found guilty on Thursday evening of all 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up “hush money” payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016, becoming the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. Trump denounced the verdict while leaving the courtroom a short time later, calling it a “disgrace” while continuing to proclaim his innocence.

In the immediate aftermath of the verdict, MAGA world raged on social media. Some prominent Trump supporters shared images of upside-down U.S. flags—which were previously associated with the post-2020 election “Stop the Steal” movement—while others insisted that the decision would only boost the ex-president’s chances in his expected November rematch with President Joe Biden.

Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, who attended Biden’s State of the Union address in February while wearing a MAGA hat and other pro-Trump apparel, shared an image of an upside-down American flag without offering any other comment in a post to X, formerly Twitter.

“This verdict is the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA,” MAGA Congressman Matt Gaetz wrote. “We will stand with President Trump now more than ever to save the country.”

Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, also a MAGA favorite, reacted to the verdict by accusing the jury of participating in “election interference” in the following post: “Say it with me: ELECTION INTERFERENCE.”

“You’ll remember this day for the rest of your life. America Has Fallen,” wrote Juanita Broaddrick, a Republican known for accusing former President Bill Clinton of rape, while sharing the upside-down flag image.

“The positive in this guilty verdict is that Trump is going to have the largest turnout in US history to vote for him in November,” posted MAGA social media personalities Kevin and Keith Hodge. “Take it to the bank.”

“BREAKING: Jury finds Trump guilty of all charges,” the Johnny MAGA account wrote. “Justice is dead.”

BREAKING: Jury finds Trump guilty of all charges

Justice is dead

— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) May 30, 2024

“Our country is officially ruined,” wrote @EyesBaeza10. “What they have done to this man. This is unbelievable.”

Conservative conspiracy theorist and failed GOP congressional candidate Laura Loomer responded by pleading for donations to Trump’s campaign while sharing an expletive aimed at New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan and the so-called “deep state.”

“[Former] President Trump’s website was just updated with this image!” Loomer’s post reads. “It says ‘BREAKING NEWS: I’M A POLITICAL PRISONER!’ Tell Judge Merchan and the Deep State to F*** OFF by donating to support President Trump here!”

MAGA podcaster Joey Mannarino also shared expletives targeting Merchan, Biden, Daniels, Democratic voters and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, while predicting that the U.S. would soon be in a “civil war.”

“As of today, with this fake guilty verdict against Trump, America is no longer the United States,” Mannarino wrote. “We are a third-world s***hole heading for a Civil War. I have no desire to see this country to unify. There’s no country to unite. We are long past that. F*** these liberals and anyone who votes for them. Trump will win and we will destroy every trace of their party.”

Others had a far different view of the verdict. Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, who served prison time for facilitating the payments to Daniels, sent Newsweek the following statement via text message:

“Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law,” Cohen wrote. “While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters. I want to thank my attorneys Danya Perry and Joshua Kolb for their invaluable guidance and support throughout this process.”