Trump, facing potential indictment, celebrates Jan. 6 insurrectionists at Waco rally

Facing a potential indictment, former President Trump took a defiant stance at a rally Saturday in Waco, disparaging the prosecutors investigating him and predicting his vindication as he rallied supporters in a city made famous by deadly resistance against law enforcement. “The thugs and criminals who are corrupting our justice system will be defeated, discredited and totally disgraced.” Trump’s event at the airport grounds in this central Texas city was part of a broader effort by the former president to use the potential indictment as a rallying cry for supporters to maintain his status as the GOP front-runner in what is expected to be a crowded presidential primary. Trump did not make any direct references in his speech to Waco’s history, telling the crowd he told Patrick he wanted to hold his rally in a place with overwhelming support, not “one of those 50-50 areas,” and said he told Patrick, “Let’s go right into the heart of it.” At several points, Trump criticized Florida Gov. Though he voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, he said he thinks the former president’s “methods and vocabulary” often detracted from his policies. “He’s an innocent man, just persecuted,” said Kregel, adding that an indictment would help Trump win in 2024.