How Trump and his allies are reacting to his felony conviction

Geoff Bennett:

The 2024 presidential election is now in unknown territory, with Donald Trump, the first former American president and first major party presumptive nominee found guilty of a felony.

Our Lisa Desjardins takes a closer look at the reaction in recent days.

Man:

Forty-five.

Lisa Desjardins:

The visuals certainly were clear.

Saturday, in New Jersey, former President Donald Trump strode into a match for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, watching mixed martial arts, a combat sport known for muscle and bloodshed. This was his first public appearance after being found guilty of nearly three dozen felonies.

The crowd whooped it up, but, from Trump, the signal was serious and provocative. Then, in a weekend interview with "FOX & Friends":

Donald Trump, Former President of the United States (R) and Current U.S. Presidential Candidate: You know, my revenge will be success. And I mean that. But it's awfully hard when you see what they have done. These people are so evil.

Lisa Desjardins:

He lit another match over his upcoming sentencing.

Question:

The judge could decide to say house arrest or even jail? How do you face what that could look like?

Donald Trump:

I'm OK with it.

Lisa Desjardins:

But, he warned:

Donald Trump:

I think it would be tough for the public to take. At a certain point, there's a breaking point.

Lisa Desjardins:

It was not his only warning shot. Trump also said this about top Pentagon generals.

Donald Trump:

They want there to be woke. But these guys aren't meant for woke. I would fire them. You can't have woke military.

Lisa Desjardins:

As Trump takes swings, his supporters are showering him with big dollars, $70 million fund-raised in the 48 hours after last week's verdict, according to the Republican National Committee.

Republicans in Congress now or who hope to be also seem eager to show allegiance and win base points for themselves. In a letter, eight Senate Republicans vowed to block major bills and President Biden's nominees, saying — quote — "We are unwilling to aid and abet this White House in its project to tear this country apart."

In Montana:

Narrator:

It's lawfare, a state-sponsored political persecution led by Joe Biden and the radical left. They want to throw Trump in jail.

Lisa Desjardins:

In a key U.S. Senate race, the first ad about the conviction from Republican hopeful Tim Sheehy, who repeated Trump's charges and lack of direct proof that his conviction was unfair.

But the question is still about Donald Trump, with events in Phoenix and Las Vegas later this week and which punches he throws next.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Lisa Desjardins.