Europe reacts to Trump’s ruling: Media says even a former president is not above the law. Orban supports him

Even a former US president is not above the law. This was the consensus reached in Western European media today, after a New York jury on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty of a crime, becoming the first former head of state.

Some analysts also added that the real verdict will not come out until election night on November 5, when it will become clear how Thursday’s verdict will affect voters’ opinions or Trump’s race for the White House against current US President Joe Biden.

He no longer performs well

With that conviction, the Teflon Don is no longer doing well, wrote Guardian commentator Hugo Lowell. “Trump has been so successful in gaming the justice system that those around him joke that he lives up to his nickname ‘Teflon Don’ – nothing seems to stick to him,” the journalist said. “That luck ran out on Thursday.”

However, Lowell said the verdict was not surprising in some ways, adding that “New York’s justice system (…) has a history of going after politically powerful people who believe they are protected by the law.”

A 12-judge panel on Thursday found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying financial records related to hush money payments to a porn actress before the 2016 election.

Roland Naylors, a commentator for the German news magazine Der Spiegel, said: “The verdict shows that even a former president is not above the law. The judge and jury did not lie and were not intimidated by Trump.” “Nevertheless, the decision is unlikely to significantly help his political opponent Biden,” he added.

“Yes, of course, 34 felony convictions are enough to destroy the career of any normal politician. And yes, of course, Trump is not a normal politician, that’s a fact. His staunchest supporters will only become more so after Thursday’s guilty verdict,” Politico’s John Harris reports.

“But it does mean that many voters who don’t like Biden very much are being strongly and clearly reminded why they don’t like Trump. In swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, even a small percentage of voters who are swayed by the fact that everything has to happen for Biden to win could have a decisive impact on the balance of power,” he added.

The event is not over yet

“The New York trial … played a useful role because it clearly explained to everyone the actions of a man who made contempt for the rule of law his way of life,” Le Monde, a French newspaper, said of the verdict. “The former US president was found guilty of 34 counts … However, his campaign will not end here. The real verdict will be announced on the evening of November 5, the day of the presidential election,” the newspaper added.

French commentator Maureen Picard called the results of the process remarkable. “In this sick democracy, the United States of 330 million souls, an unrivalled melting pot and extreme polarization of public life, a people’s jury without ulterior motives, without special interests and far from any political manipulation, temporarily took the smile off the face of Donald Trump, as he was seen shaking his head in disdain at the verdict, proof, if needed, that in this city famous for its fight against ‘white-collar’ crime, no one is above the law.” According to him, the “real verdict” will not be made until election night, November 5.

Contrary to the views of most Western European media commentators, Gerard Baker of The Times said in a commentary: “When historians look back on this moment, it will be seen as another huge step in the United States’ continued retreat from a stable democratic society governed by a just legal order.”

“Of course, Trump is no angel, and his actions — both in and out of office — have often tested the scope of the rule of law. But as many Democrats have acknowledged, this particular case against him … is legally far-fetched,” he added.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed support for Trump and called on the former president to “keep fighting.” “Let the people decide in November!” Orban said, while Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini declared Trump a “victim of judicial harassment and a political process.”