'Shut your mouth': Strategist goes after Trump for claiming he’s like Nelson Mandela

Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media at one of his property, 40 Wall Street, following closing arguments at his civil fraud trial on Jan. 11, 2024 in New York City.

Professor Basil Smikle told Donald Trump he should refrain from comparing himself with legendary freedom fighter Nelson Mandela.

Over the weekend, Trump attacked Judge Juan Merchan again, calling him "a partisan hack" because his daughter works in Democratic politics. Trump claimed that the judge "wants to put me in the clink for speaking the open and obvious TRUTH. I will gladly become a modern-day Nelson Mandela," host Ana Cabrara read.

Trump's comments come after he said that he may not follow the gag order preventing him from trashing family members of the judge in the so-called hush money trial over money he's accused of giving Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair before the 2016 election.

Breaking the gag order could mean a hefty fine or even time in jail.

Mandela, the leader of the opposition to apartheid in South Africa, spent 27 years in jail as a political prisoner as leader of the African National Conference.

Mandela won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993 for his work.

Trump summed up his own political struggles in his Truth Social post.

"Now, we have Merchan, who is not allowing me to talk, thereby violating the Law and the Constitution, all at once. It is so bad what he is trying to get away with - How was he even chosen for this case??? I heard he fought like hell to get it, and all of the rest of them also! If this Partisan Hack wants to put me in the 'clink' for speaking the open and obvious TRUTH, I will gladly become a Modern Day Nelson Mandela - It will be my GREAT HONOR."

ALSO READ: A neuroscientist reveals how Trump and Biden's cognitive impairments are different

"He really needs to shut his mouth. Shut your mouth," Smikle told Trump. "I have nothing more scholarly to say on that issue. Shut your mouth. You're not Nelson Mandela. You're a joke."

Trump first compared himself to Mandelaabout six months ago. MSNBC producer Steve Benen said it adds to the list of people like Abraham Lincoln and Jesus that Trump has cited as having similarities to himself.

See the comments from the panel in the video below or at the link here.

'Shut your mouth': Strategist goes after Trump for claiming he’s Nelson Mandela youtu.be

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