Donald Trump thanked his family for their support in a speech just hours after he was criminally charged in New York – but failed to mention his absent wife Melania.
The former first lady seemingly skipped the high-profile event at their Mar-a-Lago estate on Tuesday night, following her notable absence on the indictment trip to New York City.
The former president has pleaded not guilty to 34 charges of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election to among others, adult film actress Stormy Daniels for an alleged affair.
Mr Trump turned to his family as he bragged to the audience about his successful real estate business and how banks had not lost “even $1” in their dealings with The Trump Organization.
He then individually named all of his children, but not his wife.
“I built a great business with my family, a fantastic business,” he told the crowd as he smiled at his family in the front row and pointed at them.
“I have a son here who has done a great job, and I have another son here who has done a great job … and Tiffany, and Ivanka. And Barron will be great some day. He is tall, he is tall and he’s smart.
“But I have a great family and they have done a fantastic job and we appreciate it very much. They have gone through hell.”
Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts against him before Judge Juan Merchan shortly after 2.40pm, becoming the first current or former US president ever to be charged with a crime.
Mr Trump was flanked by police in court but was not handcuffed or put in a jail cell, and no mugshot was taken.
