Donald Trump, who last week became the first former US President to be convicted of criminal charges after the verdict in hush money trial, has shared how the development has affected his family. In an interview over the weekend, the Republican presidential candidate said the trial and conviction have been "very hard" for his wife, Melania Trump.
"She's fine, but I think it's very hard for her," Trump told Fox News.
He added that in several ways, "it's tougher on them (his family) than it is on me".
Donald Trump, 77, will face sentencing on July 11. A 12-member jury found him guilty on all 34 counts for falsifying business documents to conceal hush-money payments to former porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election campaign. The trial featured explicit testimony from Daniels about a sexual encounter she had with the former US President in 2006 while he was married to Melania Trump.
Donald Trump has denied any wrongdoing and ever having sex with Daniels and is expected to appeal the verdict, which he has called "rigged" and driven by politics.
Melania Trump was not only absent from the courtroom during the hush money trial, but was also not by her husband's side when he delivered an unscripted 33-minute speech in response to the verdict on Friday (May 31). While other family members posted messages of condemnation on social media after the verdict, her silence online has raised questions.
Stephanie Grisham, Donald Trump's former press secretary, said last month that he was "absolutely bothered" that his wife and daughter Ivanka Trump didn't attend his trial, CNN reported.
In the interview with Fox News, Donald Trump also said that he is "ready to go to jail", but added that his imprisonment would be "tough" for his supporters. "There's a breaking point," the former US President said.
"I'm okay with it (going to jail). I saw one of my lawyers the other day on television saying, 'Oh no, you don't want to do that to the President'.I said, don't, you don't beg for anything. It’s just the way it is," he said while speaking exclusively to Fox News in the TV interview.
He further said that his "revenge" would be a success in the November US presidential elections.
