Of course, a criminal trial does not help Trump. And anyone who tries to sell you otherwise should have their head examined. It is simply an absurd and asinine argument.
Former President Donald Trump and his minions throughout the Republican Party would have you believe that his criminal trial for falsifying business records to cover up an affair with a porn star, which is starting in earnest this week, is a political benefit to him. In their telling, the trial, which they say is nothing more than “political persecution” and “election interference,” is a political gift that will propel Trump to a second term.
Like most things that come from Trumpworld, this could not be further from the truth. Of course, a criminal trial does not help Trump. And anyone who tries to sell you otherwise should have their head examined. It is simply an absurd and asinine argument.
Because despite what Trump might believe, he does not have mythical political powers, he does not defy the laws of political gravity, and he’s not made of Teflon. In fact, he is a politician who has never once gotten more votes than his political opponent. Ever. And under his stewardship, the Republican Party has had historic electoral defeats in 2018, 2020, and 2022.
The simple truth is Donald Trump is deeply unpopular and politically weak, and a criminal trial is not going to help that.
Elections are a simple math equation; it is about addition, not subtraction. To win in November, Trump not only needs to keep every single vote he won last time but has to add to his vote tally. Without question, a criminal trial will fire up the MAGA base. They are conditioned to eat up the grievance politics that Trump serves them daily whole-hog without asking questions or applying logic.
