President Trump acknowledged that losing the presidential election could have resulted in a “very nasty life,” hinting at the potential legal troubles he faced, including jail time. Speaking at an investment summit, he described the situation as “dangerous” and noted that his victory led to the Justice Department dropping two federal cases against him. Trump implied he was campaigning not just for the presidency but for his freedom. He also rejected claims that historical figures like Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln were the most mistreated presidents, stating, “Nobody was treated like me,” despite facing numerous criminal charges during his campaign.
On Wednesday, President Trump remarked that his life would have been “very nasty” had he lost the presidential election, providing a rare public acknowledgment that his legal battles might have overshadowed his existence and possibly led to incarceration.
“If I had lost, it would have been very bad,” said Mr. Trump during an investment summit in Miami Beach. “It was actually dangerous, very dangerous.”
Following his victory in November, the Justice Department dropped two federal cases against him, and a Manhattan judge granted an unconditional discharge in his hush money case.
Mr. Trump articulated a concern that his advisers noted he had been feeling as he campaigned. However, he did not publicly recognize throughout 2024 that he was vying for his freedom just as much as for the presidency itself.
The president made these remarks in reply to a question regarding how he would spend a year if given a sabbatical. While he did not directly respond, expressing his honor in being president, he mentioned that running again required “a certain amount of courage” because of the personal stakes involved.
Additionally, Mr. Trump expressed his disagreement with historians who claim that Andrew Jackson and Abraham Lincoln, who was assassinated, were the two most mistreated presidents in American history.
“Nobody has been treated like me,” he stated. “Nobody. You learn a lot about yourself in these situations, but there’s nothing else I’d rather do.”
Throughout the presidential campaign, Mr. Trump faced numerous criminal charges across four different cases. Special counsel Jack Smith filed charges against him in two cases: one concerning the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, and another related to his management of classified government documents post-presidency in 2021. Although a Trump-appointed judge had dismissed the documents case, Mr. Smith’s team was in the process of appealing that decision.
Additionally, he faced charges in Georgia for efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat and was convicted on all counts in the New York hush-money case, where he could potentially face up to four years in prison.
Maggie Haberman contributed reporting.