'Breaking point': Trump warns of potential Jan 6 like unrest if he faces jail time

Donald Trump, ex-US president and recent felon, has issued a stark warning that sending him to prison could be a "breaking point" for his supporters, heightening fears of political violence as the US presidential election on November 5 approaches.

A 'breaking point'

In a Fox News interview aired on Sunday (June 2), the former president and current Republican White House contender acknowledged the possibility of jail time or house arrest following his historic criminal conviction in a hush money trial.

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"I'm OK with it," Trump said, but added, "I'm not sure the public would stand for it."

"I think it would be tough for the public to take. You know at a certain point there's a breaking point," he remarked.

The statement, as per AFP, is likely to resonate in a nation already apprehensive about civil unrest and political harassment in the lead-up to the election.

Already, Trump, now running as a felon, has refused to commit to accepting the election result should he lose to President Joe Biden.

Call for Supreme Court to intervene

In response to the court verdict, Trump stated on his Truth Social platform on Sunday that the highest court in the land need to intervene. With three justices nominated by Trump, the Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority.

"The 'Sentencing' for not having done anything wrong will be, conveniently for the Fascists, 4 days before the Republican National Convention," he stated.

"A Radical Left Soros backed D.A., who ran on a platform of 'I will get Trump,' reporting to an 'Acting' Local Judge, appointed by the Democrats, who is HIGHLY CONFLICTED, will make a decision which will determine the future of our Nation? The United States Supreme Court MUST DECIDE!" he added.

Trump Hush Money Trial

A New York jury on Thursday (May 30) convicted Trump on all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records during the 2016 presidential campaign to cover up a sex scandal involving porn star Stormy Daniels.

This is historic, as it marks the first criminal conviction of a former president in US history.

His sentencing is set for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention where Trump is expected to be formally nominated as the party's presidential candidate.

Trump's legal team has already voiced its intention to appeal the hush money verdict, though it must first navigate state appellate courts before potentially reaching the US Supreme Court.

"A Local Judge, appointed by the Democrats, who is HIGHLY CONFLICTED, will make a decision which will determine the future of our Nation?" said Trump on his Truth Social platform.

"The United States Supreme Court MUST DECIDE!"

Trump is also facing three other criminal trials, including one related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The 77-year-old's supporters infamously stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, following his incendiary speech urging them to "fight like hell."

Democrat Adam Schiff, a member of the committee that investigated the Capitol attack, said Trump's recent comments were a threat.

"This is essentially his threat that, if he gets jail time, that he's going to encourage his supporters to rise up," Schiff said on CNN's "State of the Union" programme.

"And we saw the very deadly results of that on January 6," he added.

(With inputs from agencies)