Press Review of the Americas

Headlines: Donald Trump appeared in a New York court

Former US President Donald Trump, on April 4, 2023 in New York, was indicted on suspicion of "orchestration" concerning several payments to cover up business before his 2016 election. © AP/Steven Hirsch

Text by: Christophe Paget Follow

4 mn

Advertising

Read more

The same image appears on the front page of the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal or El Diario: the ex-president, his face closed, during his impeachment in the Manhattan court. He is sitting at a table, on his right and on his left his lawyers, behind him police officers, standing. "Trump's judicial theater begins," headlines the Financial Times, which for its part chose an image of Donald Trump waving outside the court - but here too, his face is closed. However, say legal experts quoted by the Wall Street Journal, "the case against him leaves wide openings for his lawyers". In its editorial, the conservative newspaper even said it was "astonished that the case put together by Alvin Bragg turned out to be even weaker than expected" with, writes the New York Times, this surprise accusation of "falsifying documents in order to lie to the judicial administration". The newspaper speaks of a "risky" file.

That didn't stop the president from "getting carried away," writes the Washington Post, during his Mar-a-Lago speech last night. Donald Trump has again presented himself, reports The Hill, "as the victim of political persecution, speaking of a 'lawless' judicial system designed to shatter his political career."

In the meantime, notes the New York Times, it is he who occupies the center of the arena – and not Joe Biden, even if he is in the White House. Democrats may still feel that when it comes to next year's presidential vote, "avoiding chaos may seem enticing to voters exhausted by Trumpian agitation." But, a Republican strategist writes in the pages of the newspaper, "with Trump, there can be days, or even weeks like this Tuesday, when the Democrats do not appear on the screen." However, notes Politico, "if the Trumpist base is united, the Republican Party is divided": yesterday, the president of the Young Republicans of New York complained that its leaders had not made the trip to support the former president.

In Ecuador, debate over carrying weapons for civilians

The Ecuadorian press devotes its editorials to President Lasso's decision to allow civilians to carry weapons to help fight insecurity. "Mr. President, I don't want to 'defend myself'!" wrote a columnist for La Hora: "I don't want to learn how to use a weapon, how to shoot another human being, how to put my life on the line and jeopardize the lives of my loved ones!" After two years in power and while the president faces impeachment," writes El Comercio, "Guillermo Lasso seems to have understood that he must show results for citizens to change their opinion and support him."

But "despair is a bad counselor," La Hora said. As a result, El Comercio stings: the "worst decision a government can take" to end the problem of insecurity in the country - "it is the police who must have the exclusive use of legitimate force. It's part of our social contract." The Hora also calls for "legal, economic and moral support" for the police so that they can tackle delinquency.

In Nicaragua, expulsion of a Panamanian priest

Donaciano Alarcon was, writes Confidencial, abandoned Monday night by police at the border with Honduras. He is, writes the newspaper, "the second foreign priest victim of the Orteguist persecution against the Catholic Church in Nicaragua": last Friday, La Prensa had reported that the Uruguayan priest Nestor Mendoza had not been able to return to the country, while he officiates in a church in Nicaragua.

100% Noticias listened to the interview given by Donaciano Alarcon to a Panamanian radio. He explains that he has been accused of "organizing the people against the government", while he says he has not made any comment against any political party. On the other hand, he believes he was "a little reckless during Masses", mentioning Monsignor Rolando Alvarez, sentenced to 26 years in prison for refusing to leave Nicaragua with more than 200 other political prisoners.

Newsletter Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

Read on on the same topics:

  • United States
  • Justice
  • Donald Trump
  • Press review
  • Press Review of the Americas