(Reuters) -A New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a hush-money payment to a porn star, making him the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.
Here is some international reaction:
KREMLIN SPOKESMAN DMITRY PESKOV:
“If we speak about Trump, the fact that there is simply the elimination, in effect, of political rivals by all possible means, legal and illegal, is obvious.”
HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER VIKTOR ORBAN ON X:
“I’ve known President @realDonaldTrump to be a man of honour. As President, he always put America first, he commanded respect around the world and used this respect to build peace. Let the people make their verdict this November! Keep on fighting, Mr. President!”
BRITISH OPPOSITION LABOUR PARTY LEADER KEIR STARMER:
“First and foremost, we respect the court’s decision in relation to the decision in the Trump case. There’s sentencing still to go and possible appeal, but we respect the court process.
“…We have a special relationship with the U.S. that transcends whoever the president is, but it is an unprecedented situation, no doubt about that.”
NIGEL FARAGE, A LEADING BREXIT CAMPAIGNER IN BRITAIN WHO HAS CAMPAIGNED WITH TRUMP, SAID ON X:
“This verdict is a disgrace. Trump will now win big.”
MATTEO SALVINI, ITALY’S DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND HEAD OF THE LEAGUE PARTY:
“Solidarity and full support for @realDonaldTrump, victim of judicial harassment and a process of political nature. In Italy, we are sadly familiar with the weaponisation of the justice system by the left, given that for years attempts have been made to eliminate political opponents through legal means. I hope Trump wins; it would be a guarantee of greater balance and hope for world peace.”
YORHIMASA HAYASHI, CHIEF CABINET SECRETARY, JAPAN:
“We would like to refrain from commenting on matters relating to judicial procedures in other countries.
“The Japanese government is not in a position to make comments with presumption about the impact on the (U.S.) presidential election. In any event, we are closely monitoring related developments and will continue to gather information.”
MEL STRIDE, BRITAIN’S WORK AND PENSIONS SECRETARY, TO SKY NEWS:
“As a government cabinet minister, there is a long-held convention that we don’t interfere in elections overseas, so I really can’t comment on that particular question, in the same way we wouldn’t expect American politicians to start throwing comments in about our general election.
“They are clearly dramatic, very dramatic turn of events and let’s wait to see what happens, but ultimately the choice will be for the American people … in November.”