Biden on Trump verdict: 'The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed'

At a press conference on Friday, President Biden commented on former President Donald Trump being found guilty on Thursday in his hush money trial. Biden said, "The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed." He also said, "It's reckless, it's dangerous, it's irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don't like the verdict." Trump, who was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, is the first U.S. president to be convicted of criminal charges.

Video transcript

The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed.

Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself.

It was a state case, not a federal case, and it was heard by a jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you, like millions of Americans who served on juries.

This jury was chosen the same way every jury in America is chosen.

It was a process that Donald Trump's attorney was part of.

The jury heard five weeks of evidence. Five weeks.

After careful deliberation, the jury reached a unanimous verdict.

They found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts.

Now he'll be given the opportunity, as he should, to appeal that decision, just like everyone else has that opportunity.

That's how the American system of justice works.

And it's reckless, it's dangerous, it's irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don't like the verdict.

Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years, and it literally is the cornerstone of America — our justice system.

The justice system should be respected — and we should never allow anyone to tear it down.

It's as simple as that. That's America. That's who we are, and that's who will always be, God willing.