Mr. Trump compared himself to Nelson Mandela

Former President Trump, a potential Republican candidate, likened himself to anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

In a post on the social network Truth on April 6, former President Donald Trump accused Judge Juan Merchan of violating the US First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and expression, as well as breaking the law.

"If the people who work for this faction want to put me in jail for speaking the truth openly and obviously, I will happily become a modern-day Nelson Mandela. That would be my greatest honor," Trump said.

Former US President Donald Trump at a campaign event in Rome, Georgia on March 9. Photo: AP

Mr Trump's comments came after Judge Merchan barred the former president from discussing a case involving allegations that he paid hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels to suppress damaging information during his 2016 campaign.

The ban was imposed because Trump has repeatedly “threatened, incited, or defamed” legal officials, including jurors, according to Judge Merchan. The trial is scheduled to begin on April 15.

Former President Trump compared himself to Mandela during the 2023 campaign and also compared himself to Jesus. President Joe Biden’s campaign quickly criticized Trump’s July 6 post.

“This man is so self-centered that he has been likening himself to Jesus and Nelson Mandela for over a week. That is your Donald Trump,” the Biden campaign said.

Mandela was an icon of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, having spent 27 years in prison. After his release, he led the movement to end white minority rule and secure voting rights for black people in South Africa.

In 1993, Mr. Mandela was elected president of South Africa and held office from 1994 to 1999. He died in 2013 at the age of 95 after months of treatment for lung disease at home.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP )

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