During a recent appearance on Fox News, Eric Trump claimed that people on his flight gave him hugs after the news of his father's indictment broke while they were on the flight—but people online aren't buying it.
A New York grand jury voted to indict former President Donald Trump last week on more than 30 charges related to alleged hush money paid to Stormy Daniels during Trump's presidential campaign in 2016.
It has been reported that the grand jury is also looking into a payment made to another woman who Trump allegedly had an affair with—former Playboy model Karen McDougal—though charges have not yet been brought in relation to that payment.
Unlike the payment to Daniels, which was completed by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, McDougal was reportedly paid by The National Enquirer.
David Pecker, former CEO of National Enquirer parent company American Media Inc., admitted in court that he made the payment to McDougal as part of a non-prosecution agreement. He testified that he made the payment to help Trump's presidential campaign.
Eric Trump said he was on a commercial flight when news of his father's indictment broke.
The younger Trump claimed people came up to him unprompted to hug him and offer their support for his father.
"I was on a plane, I was on a commercial flight, when this whole indictment broke. People were coming up to me, giving me hugs."
He continued:
"The support is unbelievable out there because people understand that we’ve literally become a banana republic, that they’ve made a mockery out of our legal system in this country."
This Fox News appearance wasn't the only time Eric Trump called the country's legal system into question.
He also tweeted the indictment was "third world [sic] prosecutorial misconduct" and claimed it was politically motivated.
\u201cThis is third world prosecutorial misconduct. It is the opportunistic targeting of a political opponent in a campaign year.\u201d— Eric Trump (@Eric Trump) 1680213529
You can view a clip of Eric Trump making his claim on Fox News below:
\u201cEric Trump: I have to tell you. I was on a plane when this whole indictment broke. People were coming up to me, giving me hugs.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1680384434
The "grown men with tears in their eyes" and unsolicited hugs in support of Trump are familiar stories Donald and his two older sons repeat over and over.
Twitter users really weren't buying what Eric Trump was selling, though.
\u201c@Acyn LOL\nOut of all the things that never happened, this never happened the most. \ud83e\udd23\ud83d\ude02\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1680384434
\u201c@Acyn Never happened. Born liar. Like his father.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1680384434
\u201c@Acyn Crying people just can\u2019t stop hugging Eric\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1680384434
\u201c@Acyn Not likely true even on his family plane.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1680384434
\u201c@Acyn Did they also have tears in their eyes while calling him sir? And did this happen before or after he headed to \u201cliterally CVS\u201d for Tylenol?\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1680384434
\u201c@MikeSington More like hugs of joy that he and his "Father" are going through things.\u201d— Mike Sington (@Mike Sington) 1680437696
\u201c@Acyn @mayrabella101 SMFH\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1680384434
\u201c@Acyn Just when I thought it wasn't possible to roll my eyes back further in my head, along comes Eric with another tale of adventure.\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1680384434
\u201c@Acyn Yeah Eric, I bet you were flying coach and the pilot announced the indictment over the intercom. Then a bunch of big strong men with tears in their eyes just came up and give you big hugs and said...\n"Sir, I cant believe this egregious injustice has befallen your family" \ud83d\ude44\u201d— Acyn (@Acyn) 1680384434
Trump and his siblings are well known for their various attempts to defend their father in the public eye whenever it seems like he might be held accountable for something he has done.
When news of the indictment broke, Donald Trump Jr took to Truth Social to vent his rage and throw wild accusations around.
"WTF?!? Big news in the weaponization of our Govt against their political enemies."
He later expanded on his thoughts on his podcast, Triggered with Don Jr:
"Let’s be clear, folks, this is like communist-level s**t. This is stuff that would make Mao, Stalin, Pol Pot — it would make them blush."
Don Jr wasn't done there, though—he had some more bizarre claims to make.
"It’s so flagrant, it’s so crazed."
"When even like the radical leftists of The Washington Post are out there saying, ‘it’s not really based on fact, it’s not really based on the law, it’s not really based in reality, but it’s 100% based on politics’—when your enemies are saying that, it’s got to tell you everything you need to know about where we are as a country."
Ivanka, on the other hand, released a rather noncommital statement via her Instagram story:
"I love my father, and I love my country. Today I am pained for both. I appreciate the voices across the political spectrum expressing support and concern."
While Donald Trump's sons appear more than ready to completely make things up to support their father, it seems Ivanka is choosing to try to remove herself from the drama.
Their grandstanding isn't likely to make much of a difference at this point, though, as Trump has already been indicted and may finally face consequences for a lifetime of poor decisions.
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