Shark Tank star Kevin O’Leary has expressed his concern over the impact of Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial on the reputation of the United States. As jurors began deliberating a verdict in the trial, O’Leary appeared on Fox Business’s Varney & Co to share his thoughts.
O’Leary lamented that the trial was “tainting” the US brand, stating that the country’s reputation has “sunk right into the toilet.” His main issue was not with the allegations against Trump, but rather with the trial itself, which he believed was unworthy of tarnishing America’s image.
The former president is facing 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, with prosecutors alleging that he made a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair. Trump has denied the affair took place.
O’Leary argued that the trial was detrimental to the economy and suggested that former executives at the White House should be held to a higher standard. Despite his defense of Trump, O’Leary criticized President Joe Biden’s student loan relief program, calling it “un-American” and “unfair.”
While O’Leary may be concerned about America’s reputation abroad, recent research has shown a decline in the country’s favorability since 2000, with a significant hit during Trump’s presidency. As the trial continues, O’Leary’s comments highlight the ongoing debate over the impact of high-profile legal cases on the nation’s image.