'I'll Never Leave': Trump Vows Not to Quit Presidential Race Even If Convicted

"I'll never leave," Trump said in an interview aboard his plane. "Look, if I would have left, I would have left prior to the original race in 2016. That was a rough one. In theory that was not doable."

Trump is not legally prohibited from running for president from prison or as a convicted felon. [...]

The former president leveled harsh criticisms at special counsel Jack Smith and argued that the case against him was politically motivated and flimsy. "These are thugs and degenerates who are after me," he said.

Trump predicted he would not be convicted and said he did not anticipate taking a plea deal, though he left open the possibility of doing so "where they pay me some damages."

He sidestepped the possibility that he would pardon himself should he win the presidency in 2024. "I don't think I'll ever have to," Trump said. "I didn't do anything wrong."

While Trump said campaign fundraising had skyrocketed since the indictment was issued, he conceded it was an unwelcome development.

"Nobody wants to be indicted," said Trump. "I don't care that my poll numbers went up by a lot. I don't want to be indicted. I've never been indicted. I went through my whole life, now I get indicted every two months. It's been political."

LIVE NOW: Donald Trump makes a surprise visit to Waffle House in Georgia, walks in and says, “Waffles on Trump!” pic.twitter.com/qi5yaE7jSE

— Raheem. (@RaheemKassam) June 10, 2023

This is President Trump in his element. Just hanging with the people at a Waffle House on a Saturday afternoon. pic.twitter.com/JMTZwr6BxC

— Steven Cheung (@TheStevenCheung) June 10, 2023

Trump: They want to use something called The Espionage Act -- doesn't that sound terrible? Oh Espionage. We got a box, I got a box. The Espionage. The Espionage Act of 1917… They say Trump is obstructiioning pic.twitter.com/oh7bVDGznE

— Acyn (@Acyn) June 10, 2023

Trump: Deranged Jack Smith. I watched him yesterday go up and talk.. He was shaking. He was so scared. He didn’t want to be there because ultimately these are cowards pic.twitter.com/llB3bHSxUO

— Acyn (@Acyn) June 10, 2023

Trump: New England has a liberal tint or taint, I would say taint is a better word, actually, pic.twitter.com/aMRqwQBDz2

— Acyn (@Acyn) June 11, 2023

President Trump: "You're watching Joe Biden try to jail his leading political opponent." pic.twitter.com/RFWiGRf8qV

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) June 10, 2023

President Trump: “At the end of the day, either the communists destroy America or we destroy the communists...our enemies are desperate to stop us because they know that we are the only ones who can stop them.” pic.twitter.com/BRnIsRUT9Z

— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) June 11, 2023

President Trump: “I am the only candidate that can make this promise: I can prevent World War III.” pic.twitter.com/25VaKgcoDG

— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) June 11, 2023

Let's defeat the war mongers and send President Trump back to the White House. pic.twitter.com/opwZXJRyd2

— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) June 10, 2023

Trump: "I will restore free speech in America and I will require every federal employee to pass a new civil service test demonstrating an understanding of our constitution."

More: https://t.co/1PFEsZoSxS pic.twitter.com/Llb1YieLln

— NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) June 11, 2023

President Trump: “This is the final battle. With you at my side, we will demolish the Deep State, we will expel the warmongers from our government, we will drive out the globalists, we will cast out the communists, we will throw off the sick political class that hates our… pic.twitter.com/1MYe2w27JP

— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) June 11, 2023

Trump: Once you get used to saying DeSanctus, it’s hard to say DeSantis… He’s changing his name. Now its Dee Santis… You don’t change your name in the middle of a campaign pic.twitter.com/EwSsYFpbnH

— Acyn (@Acyn) June 11, 2023