Trump in courts can upend many US political conventions, with some dangerous consequences. Worsening US political gridlock may have big geopolitical consequences
Politics is generally a theatre of the absurd, and nowhere more so than in the US this week. Donald Trump’s arraignment in a New York court where he was charged with 34 counts of felony was a media moment of unparalleled proportions. He sent out a travel itinerary, sold many t-shirts with a fake “Not Guilty” message, and raised, according to his office, something like $7mn in over a single day. He dominated US TV networks, which relegated President Joe Biden’s speech on the American economy to the background. Trump is officially in the game of thrones for US presidency in 2024.
The ‘faithful’ believe him
The New York charges are less serious than the others coming down the road. A special grand jury is ready to hand out indictments to Trump on the Georgia 2020 election interference case, where, among other things, Trump was apparently caught on tape saying incriminating stuff. The Fulton County DA was quoted as saying the indictments were “imminent”. Then there is a department of justice investigation, also on the 2020 election. Both carry longer prison terms if found guilty.
The ‘faithful’ believe him
The New York charges are less serious than the others coming down the road. A special grand jury is ready to hand out indictments to Trump on the Georgia 2020 election interference case, where, among other things, Trump was apparently caught on tape saying incriminating stuff. The Fulton County DA was quoted as saying the indictments were “imminent”. Then there is a department of justice investigation, also on the 2020 election. Both carry longer prison terms if found guilty.