As he has before, Donald Trump wasted little time Tuesday trying to turn a looming indictment into a political advantage, bashing prosecutors, raising campaign cash, and arguing that various investigations are attacks upon him and his followers.
“It’s interference with the election,” Trump told a Fox News town hall in Iowa, capping a long day that began when he announced he had received a target letter in the Jan. 6 investigation.
Speaking at a Cedar Rapids arena packed with cheering supporters, Trump lobbied voters by repeatedly accusing prosecutors of political bias − without evidence − and distorting the details of the cases against him.
“It bothers me for everybody in this incredible, sold-out audience,” Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity.
The venue mattered, as Iowa starts the Republican nominating process with caucuses on Jan. 15.
‘Trump plays the victim’
Trump pursued similar tactics with two previous indictments, part of an overarching attempt to keep voters on his side by arguing they are being targeted along with him.
While Republican opponents like Chris Christie have ridiculed Trump’s claims of victimization, there is evidence his arguments are working − at least among Republican voters.
The former president enjoys a huge polling lead over other Republicans who are seeking the 2024 presidential nomination. Some polls also show increasing skepticism of Trump from independent voters, suggesting he could have problems in a general election race against President Joe Biden.
“Trump plays the victim better than any candidate I’ve ever seen,” Republican pollster Frank Luntz said. “The more indictments, the more victimized he is.”
‘JAIL me for life’
Trump did the Hannity town hall hours after announcing he had received a target letter in an investigation of efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden, including the insurrection of Jan. 6, 2021.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said in all caps that Biden and the Justice Department “WANT TO INDICT & ARREST HIS PRESUMED POLITICAL OPPONENT (ME!).”
Throughout the day, Trump allies sent out fundraising solicitations citing the potential indictment and arrest. One missive urged donors “to show that you will NEVER SURRENDER our country to tyranny as the Deep State things try to JAIL me for life.”
Trump’s previous indictments
Similar solicitations were sent out after a New York state grand jury indicted Trump in March over hush money payments, and after a Florida-based federal grand jury indicted Trump in June over obstruction of justice charges related to classified documents.
Opponents said political protests won’t mean anything in courts of law, and Trump could be looking at trials in three of them. The former president has indicted he will try to delay trials until after the 2024 election.
In the town hall, Trump said if he is elected he will “reform” the Justice Department, claiming it has been “weaponized.” He also attacked Biden on items ranging from foreign policy to cocaine in the White House, and used the Iowa event to play up farm policy and trade rules.
Many of Trump’s Republican allies are helping him try and politicize the charges.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., said he will seek legislation to “defund” the office of special counsel Jack Smith, who is in charge of both the Jan. 6 and the classified documents investigations.
Other Republicans expressed more caution. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Tex., told CNN about the Jan. 6 investigation: “I think that’s entirely within the purview of the Department of Justice and has nothing to do with the United States Senate.”
‘A liar and a coward’
At times this year, Trump has told supporters that “I’m being indicted for you” by prosecutors looking to wreck his campaign.
Christie, one of the Republicans chasing Trump in the nomination race, told CNN this week that Trump is “a liar and a coward.”
“He’s indicted because of his outrageous conduct,” Christie said. “That’s why he’s been indicted.”
