Former President Trump’s Indictment and Its Impact on the 2024 GOP Nomination

Last week, former President Donald Trump was indicted on 37 federal criminal counts, which some believe increases his chances of securing the 2024 GOP nomination. The Department of Justice’s focus on Trump’s accusers rather than his own actions has played into Trump’s hands, further proving his First Law: for every criminal charge, there is an equal and opposite surge among Republicans. However, even without any legal action taken against him, Trump’s unfitness for office is clear. He regularly lies about winning the 2020 election, his handling of classified documents, his political adversaries, and people who used to work for him. His social media feeds are filled with misinformation and racist remarks. With legal proceedings beginning, Trump’s defenders are arguing legal technicalities and prosecutorial motivations, rather than discussing the type of person Trump is and the long list of wretched things he has said and done. Trump’s supporters have rushed to his defense, with some even inventing imaginary crimes that he did not commit. The former president’s rivals for the 2024 GOP nomination have largely capitulated to him, which only serves to remind voters that Trump remains the alpha dog in the field. Trump’s defenders are not discussing the evidence against him, but instead, are using whataboutism to distract from the issue at hand. Trump’s candidacy shields him from legal consequences and allows him to raise funds for his legal defense. Trump’s indictment is only unprecedented because we have never had a president so wholly lawless that the DOJ would consider such a thing.