Donald Trump, a former president of the United States, has declared that he will keep vying for the country’s presidential seat even if he is found guilty of a crime.

In his first major media appearance since entering a not guilty plea to 34 felony charges stemming from a hush-money scandal during his 2016 presidential campaign, Mr Trump praised the strongmen leaders of several other nations, attacked “sick, radical” Democrats, and said that even a prison sentence wouldn’t stop him from seeking the presidency in the future.

“I’d never drop out. It’s not my thing,” Mr Trump said when asked about his possible conviction.

The former U.S. president is also the subject of several other criminal investigations, including his attempts to have Georgian election results annulled, his attempts to remain in office after losing reelection, and a third into handling classified documents at his South Florida home.

It was also his first interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson since the cable channel was accused of defaming him in private text messages exposed as part of a $1.6 billion lawsuit by Dominion Voting Systems.