Shortly after appearing in court for an appeal of a decision that found him liable for sexual assault, Donald Trump stepped Friday in front of television cameras and brought up a string of past allegations of other acts of sexual misconduct, potentially reminding voters of incidents that were little-known or forgotten.
The former president has made hitting back at opponents and accusers a centerpiece of his political identity, but his performance at his namesake Manhattan office tower was startling even by Trump's own combative standards. At times he seemed to relish using graphic language and characterizations of the case, which could expose the former president to further legal challenges.
His remarks came just four days before Trump will debate Vice President Kamala Harris, with early voting about to begin in some parts of the country and Election Day just two months away.
Trump is staying in the public eye while Harris prepares for the debate in private with her advisers in Pittsburgh. That's a reflection of their divergent campaign styles, with Trump frequently engaging with reporters - albeit often in friendly settings - while Harris has done just one interview and no news conferences since taking President Joe Biden's place atop the Democratic ticket.
Trump on Friday repeatedly brought up Harris' lack of news conferences. But his own comments - in which he talked about the cases against him for more than half an hour without mentioning any campaign issues - threatened to cause him more legal jeopardy. And after convening reporters for what his campaign said was a news conference, Trump walked off without taking any questions.
