Trump vows to appeal guilty verdict, slams trial and judge; Biden calls opponent's response ‘dangerous’

 After Donald Trump’s historic guilty verdict, a steady flow of images showing upside-down American flags has appeared on social media as his supporters and right-wing commentators protest his felony conviction.

At least one such flag was spotted Friday outside Trump Tower in New York City as the Republican former president spoke about the trial. Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump, the former president’s daughter-in-law, and Donald Trump Jr., his eldest son, have been sharing images of inverted flags online, as did Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a longtime ally.

President Joe Biden addressed former President Donald Trump's conviction Friday, saying that "it's irresponsible for anyone to say this is rigged just because they don't like the verdict."

"Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself," Biden said at the White House. "It was a state case, not a federal case, and it was heard by a jury of 12 citizens — 12 Americans. Twelve people like you."

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said Friday that he respected the legal process and work of the jurors who convicted Donald Trump in New York.

“In this country no one is above the law and the rule of law matters,” Shapiro said at an unrelated event in Montgomery County before adding that he was focused on Pennsylvania and not a courthouse in New York.

With former President Donald Trump swept away by limo and crowds largely dispersed, the busy Trump Tower block that abuts Central Park slowly returned to the usual rhythm of head-swiveling tourists and the midday lunch crowd.

But a crowd of around 30 Trump supporters stayed put, and so did a smattering of onlookers who said they detest the former president and were thrilled with the guilty verdict.

Former President Donald Trump left his namesake tower around 12:30 p.m. in a black Secret Service limo, waving and pumping his fist to the crowd of loyal — and loud — supporters who turned Manhattan's 5th Avenue into a MAGA bonanza, blaring air horns, billowing flags, and blasting country-rap music with lyrics that urged Trump to take the country back.

For Trump's most loyal New York City supporters, his morning remarks marked the second public rally since the jury announced his guilty verdict.

The morning following his conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, former President Donald Trump began a news conference at Trump Tower with a warning.

"If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone," Trump said. "These are bad people."

At the outset of a news conference held at Trump Tower on Friday morning, Donald Trump complained about his criminal trial and subsequent conviction.

“If they can do this to me they can do this to anyone,” Trump said as he began speaking.

With 10 minutes before former President Donald Trump's remarks, a man waving a MAGA flag is parading down the middle of 57th Street, steps from Trump Tower, cursing Joe Biden and his supporters.

His comments translated to "Let's Go Brandon," the phrase adopted by MAGA supporters to chide the president.

Crowds of reporters, camera operators, and curious onlookers are gathered outside of Trump Tower in Manhattan ahead of Donald Trump's scheduled 11 a.m. remarks on his landmark guilty verdict.

Flags bearing the former president's face are billowing from across the street, where a "Let's Go Brandon" sign is strung across metal barricades.

Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak Friday after being found guilty on all counts of falsifying business records to hide an alleged affair ahead of the 2016 election.

Trump announced he will speak to reporters at 11 a.m. from Trump Tower in Manhattan.

President Joe Biden spent Thursday night in Rehoboth Beach, Del., but will travel back to Washington, D.C., Friday to welcome the Kansas City Chiefs to the White House to celebrate their Super Bowl victory against the San Francisco 49ers.

After that, Biden is scheduled to return to Rehoboth Beach.

Donald Trump has been free on bail throughout the trial and will remain so until at least his sentencing on July 11 — four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he is expected to accept his party’s presidential nomination.

Although it’s possible that Trump could be sent to prison – each count of which he was convicted Thursday carries a maximum term of four years – legal experts say it’s unlikely that Justice Juan Merchan will sentence the former president to time behind bars.