Politics, not the law, can stop Donald Trump
Politics, not the law, can stop Donald Trump
Nostalgia for American Politics: From Lies to Nostalgia
On reading the latest criminal indictment of Donald Trump, filled with stomach-churning lies about the 2020 election, one cannot help but feel a mix of wonder, dismay, and exhaustion. However, amidst these emotions, an unexpected sentiment arises: nostalgia. American politics seemed so much healthier back then.
In a political test without precedent since the civil war, the center held, and the right held. Vice President Mike Pence and others within the White House stood up to Trump. Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy even acknowledged Trump’s responsibility for the attack on the Capitol. Looking back, these moments were inspiring and reminiscent of a time when integrity and love for the republic trumped blind loyalty.
In states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, Republican officials honored their own integrity by rejecting Trump’s pleas and threats. Lee Chatfield, the Speaker of the House in Michigan, expressed his belief in their actions, stating, “Nobody wanted him to win more than me. But I love our republic, too. I can’t fathom risking our norms, our traditions, and institutions. I fear we’d lose our country forever.”
Fast forward three years, and Trump finds himself in a stronger position. His efforts to overturn the last election have propelled him forward, rather than holding him back. He continues to spew lies, relying on his ability to prey on others’ baser qualities. Even before Jack Smith, the special counsel investigating Trump, brought new charges against him, McCarthy was already trying to discredit the indictment as an effort by Joe Biden to “weaponize government.”
Tucker Carlson’s replacement at Fox News, Jesse Watters, joined in the chorus, alleging a plot by Biden to distract from investigations into Hunter Biden. In reality, Watters inadvertently described Trump’s plot perfectly. Trump’s talking points remain consistent: claiming political corruption, asserting his lies were protected by the Bill of Rights, and maintaining his belief in a stolen election. He aims to degrade faith in the law, just as he degraded faith in the electoral system.
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Trump’s political strategy intertwines with his legal strategy, reinforcing delusions about himself that most Republicans believe. These delusions include being the victim of conspirators protecting their privileges from his insurgent politics. His rise to dominance within the Republican field began in late March after his first indictment on business-fraud charges.
With a multitude of felony counts against him, consuming his campaign funds, Democrats hope these trials will distract Trump from the campaign trail in 2024. However, the Trump trials will become the trail. They will place a spotlight on him and his message of fearless challenge in the face of persecution.
So, what might break the spell? A conviction could shake even some Republicans’ confidence in Trump’s fitness for office. Nonetheless, since Trump’s political rise, the surest protection against his return to the White House lies in other Republican leaders telling the truth, just as those state officials did after the 2020 election.
While some of Trump’s long-shot rivals for the Republican nomination acknowledged his unfitness for office, others either fell in line or attempted to sidestep the charges. The governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, attacked the interlocking power structures oppressing Trump and called for systemic reform so that cases could be moved from Washington to people’s “home districts.”
These Republicans, hoping that the legal system will ultimately stop Trump, are making the same mistake as many Democrats. After the attack on the Capitol, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell held Trump “practically and morally responsible.” However, he voted to acquit Trump on the impeachment charge of inciting an insurrection, believing the matter was better left to the justice system. This choice proved fateful as it exposed American institutions to Trump’s corrosive power.
Democrats also have a duty to fulfill. They should demand a rigorous investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings, just as Republicans have done. While no evidence suggests President Biden profited from his son’s trading on the family name, excusing Hunter Biden’s practices and minimizing his lawbreaking undermines faith in the impartial application of justice, playing into Trump’s agenda.
Jack Smith’s statement on August 1st serves as a powerful reminder of the vulnerabilities experienced on January 6th and the bravery of law enforcement officials protecting American institutions and principles. Now, the rule of law is at stake, and it is up to politics to come to the rescue.
