Part 4/6:
Miniature compared to the waves of legal scrutiny that have dogged Trump for years, the former president appeared visibly pleased with the ruling. During a patrol with D.C. police, Trump openly declared the court's decision a victory:
"I had a victory today. You know, they stole $550 million from me with a fake case, and it was overturned. They said this was a fake case. It's a terrible thing, but that's a nice victory, you know."
Trump framed the decision as a vindication, dismissing the case as a "witch hunt" and asserting that the legal system had unjustly targeted him. To him, the appellate court's reversal likely provides a sense of relief, easing the financial and reputational pressures partly imposed by this legal challenge.