Donald Trump's 'Gestapo' Remark Sparks Backlash

Former President Donald Trump faced backlash on social media on Sunday after he reportedly compared President Joe Biden's administration to the Gestapo, the secret police force of Nazi Germany.

Trump, the presumptive Republican 2024 presidential nominee, reportedly made the remarks at a private, closed-door Republican National Committee (RNC) spring finance retreat for donors on Saturday in Palm Beach, Florida.

"These people are running a Gestapo administration," Trump reportedly said as he commented about his ongoing legal troubles. "And it's the only thing they have. And it's the only way they're going to win in their opinion. Until I got indicted, I was respectful of the office of the president. Once I got indicted, I said, 'Well, now the gloves have to come off.'"

Various other media outlets reportedly verified Trump's comments after listening to an audio recording from Saturday night's event. Newsweek cannot independently verify the reported remarks.

Newsweek reached out to the Trump campaign for comment via email Sunday morning. This story will be updated with any provided comments.

On Sunday morning, social media users took the former president to task.

Jay Nordlinger, senior editor for conservative magazine National Review, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "(A) People who compare the U.S. government to the Gestapo don't know anything about the Gestapo, or its victims. (B) I'm semi-relieved to know that Trump regards the Gestapo as bad."

"If the Biden administration was like the Gestapo, Trump wouldn't be around to give a speech like this," X user @sundaedivine commented in response to Trump's reported comments.

Journalist Nicholas Brown posted to X, "That isn't even funny. He should be ashamed of himself, IMO."

When reached via email on Sunday afternoon, Biden-Harris 2024 spokesperson James Singer told Newsweek: "Donald Trump's weekend bash behind closed doors underscores what we already knew: Trump's campaign is about him. His fury, his revenge, his lies, and his retribution. Trump is once again making despicable and insulting comments about the Holocaust, while in the same breath attacking law enforcement, celebrating political violence, and threatening our democracy."

Most of this weekend's donor retreat was held at the Four Seasons hotel in Palm Beach while Trump hosted a fundraising lunch at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Saturday.

The event was expected to attract more than 400 donors and featured several of Trump's rumored vice-presidential picks. The donor event was also intended to help the Trump campaign shore up its finances.

Trump is facing multiple legal challenges, including his high-profile hush money case involving adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges that he attempted to influence the 2016 presidential election by reimbursing his lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen for payments to silence Daniels over an alleged 2006 affair she had with Trump. The former president has denied the affair ever took place.

With the trial in the case set to last around six weeks, the former president is racking up significant legal fees. He is also facing three other indictments and related trials that could take place this year, and has maintained his innocence in those cases as well.

Trump also took aim on Saturday in his speech at the top prosecutors that he's facing.

The Washington Post reported that Trump called Department of Justice (DOJ) special counsel Jack Smith an "f-ing a-hole" in his speech. NBC News reported that Trump also called Smith, who is prosecuting the federal cases involving his alleged mishandling of classified documents and his alleged role in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, an "evil thug" and "deranged."

The Washington Post reported that Trump called Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis a "real beauty" and "Mrs. Wade," mocking her controversial relationship with former special prosecutor Nathan Wade amid Trump's Georgia election interference case.

Newsweek reached out to the offices of Smith and Willis via email Sunday afternoon.