Judge Smacks Down Trump’s Bizarre Argument Comparing Himself to Eminem
April 3, 2026
The Daily Beast
Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesA federal judge slapped down President Donald Trump’s argument that he wasn’t civilly liable for inciting violence at the deadly Capitol riot because his “Stop the Steal” speech was comparable to a rapper working up a crowd with divisive lyrics. The president told his followers on Jan. 6, 2021, to “fight like hell” or “you’re not going to have a country anymore” before they stormed the Capitol to try to stop congressional certification of President Joe Biden’s election victory.
He later argued in his response to a civil suit that his remarks should be interpreted as constitutionally protected speech, and not an illegal incitement to violence, because an adverse ruling would limit “public citizen speech.” Read more at The Daily Beast.
The Daily Beast
Coverage and analysis from United States of America. All insights are generated by our AI narrative analysis engine.