As Donald J. Trump’s lawyers explore various legal arguments to protect him against a flurry of criminal charges, the former president has chosen to assert a political defense: “I’m being indicted for you.” Through speeches, social media posts, and ads, Trump has consistently claimed that the prosecutions are part of a political witch hunt, positioning himself as a martyr who is suffering on behalf of Democrats and the government.
At a recent campaign event in New Hampshire, Trump told the crowd, “They want to take away my freedom because I will never let them take away your freedom. They want to silence me because I will never let them silence you.” In his previous campaigns, Trump positioned himself as an outsider who understood the grievances of the people and promised to fight for them. However, in his 2024 campaign, Trump has made his personal grievances the focus, attempting to convince his supporters to see themselves as victims just like him. He continues to falsely claim that the 2020 election was stolen from him and frames it as a theft against his voters as well. By presenting himself as a target of persecution, Trump suggests that his followers could also face similar treatment.
There is evidence that this message is resonating with his base. Lorraine Rudd, who attended one of Trump’s appearances in New Hampshire, expressed that after his third indictment, she felt that she, too, could be wrongly prosecuted. She agreed with Trump’s false claim of winning the 2020 election and worried that she could be the next target.
By portraying himself as a victim of the criminal justice system, Trump has been able to solidify Republican support around him. Even after his first indictment in March, Republican voters have continued to support him in polls. Congressional Republicans, aware of the party base’s acceptance of Trump’s election lies, have embraced investigations into what they see as the “weaponization” of federal law enforcement. Many of Trump’s 2024 Republican rivals have echoed his promises to fire the F.B.I. director and end the traditional independence of the Justice Department from the White House.
A recent opinion poll conducted by The New York Times and Siena College revealed that 71 percent of Republican voters believed Trump had not committed serious federal crimes and that Republicans should support him. Trump’s lawyers have indicated that their defense strategy in the latest case related to the 2020 election will involve a free-speech argument. They argue that Trump’s statements leading up to the January 6th riot were simply “aspirational” requests. These requests included lying to voters about widespread fraud, pressuring Mike Pence to disregard the Constitution, and asking Georgia’s secretary of state to find additional votes.
In addition to the legal battles, Trump and his allies in conservative media and Congress are also launching a campaign to discredit Hunter Biden, President Biden’s son, and link allegations of unethical practices to President Biden himself. Despite investigations led by House Republicans finding no evidence of wrongdoing by President Biden, this effort has convinced many Republicans that Trump’s indictments are part of a conspiracy to divert attention from the Bidens.
Meanwhile, Republican primary polls consistently show Trump in the lead, leaving only a few rivals willing to directly challenge him on the subject of the 2020 election. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently acknowledged that Trump had, in fact, lost re-election, a rare admission of reality among Republicans.
As the narrative of unfair persecution by the criminal justice system takes hold among Trump’s supporters, it becomes clear that Trump’s personal sense of victimhood has become a defining aspect of his image. While not all Republican voters embrace this narrative, Trump’s ability to mobilize a core base of supporters who believe he is fighting for them remains a powerful force in the political landscape.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
