Reflecting on Trump’s controversial political journey, Rivera recalls Trump’s surprising win in 2016 after his stint on The Celebrity Apprentice. As someone who had a “front row seat” to Trump’s first presidential campaign, Rivera admitted he once admired Trump’s audacity and underestimated his appeal. However, he now says he regrets his previous support, particularly after witnessing Trump’s actions following his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.
Rivera revealed that the last time he spoke with Trump was shortly after the 2020 election. According to Rivera, Trump initially expressed a willingness to accept the results if they remained against him. But instead of conceding, Trump launched what Rivera describes as “an increasingly menacing campaign to discredit the 2020 election.” Rivera condemns Trump’s unfounded claims of voter fraud, stating, “None exists.” He went on to say that Trump’s accusations have pressured millions of Republicans into believing the “Big Lie” that the election was stolen.
Rivera pulled no punches in describing Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, stating that Trump “incited and unleashed the violent attack” on the U.S. Capitol, which led to his second impeachment. As rioters stormed the building, Rivera alleges that Trump pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election results, a move Rivera describes as Trump “stabbing the Constitution in the back.”
While acknowledging that some voters may still support Trump for his policy positions on taxes, immigration, and foreign affairs, Rivera argues that Trump’s insistence on perpetuating falsehoods about the 2020 election undermines his credibility and threatens the Constitution. He urges Republicans who support Trump to admit that he lost in 2020, rather than continuing to promote the “lie” of a stolen election.
Ultimately, Rivera makes his own stance clear: “Former President Trump is a sore loser who cannot be trusted to honor the Constitution.” He concludes his statement by endorsing Kamala Harris for the presidency, stating that, despite any reservations, he believes she would uphold the integrity of the office better than Trump.
