Biden campaign alters strategy in response to Trump's trial

After months of ignoring or making jokes about former President Donald Trump's criminal trial, the Biden campaign made a surprising change on Tuesday. They decided to hold a news conference outside the courthouse where closing arguments were happening.

The event was lively and even included a surprise visit from actor-turned-campaign-surrogate Robert De Niro. Although the president's team claimed the news conference wasn't meant to discuss the trial, it was clearly intended to bring focus to the person on trial inside the courthouse.

De Niro expressed his concerns about the potential consequences of Trump returning to the White House. He warned that if Trump is re-elected, the freedoms we often take for granted could be at risk. With protesters chanting and a car alarm blaring in the background, De Niro emphasized the importance of preserving these freedoms, especially in relation to future elections.

Biden's team had initially been cautious about taking actions or making statements that could be perceived as politicizing Trump's trial. They believed that the trial itself would effectively showcase the former president and the turmoil that surrounds him. By allowing the trial to unfold without interference, they hoped to remind voters of Trump's controversial presidency and the impact it had on the country.

Some of Biden's allies believed Trump had already made his legal issues political. They suggested that Biden should also speak up to attract voters' attention. Tuesday's event showed support for this suggestion.

Campaign communications director Michael Tyler said that the news media is always here, outside the lower Manhattan courthouse. He explained why they chose to speak to reporters in that location.

In addition to actor De Niro, who recently criticized Trump in an ad, the event also featured two police officers, Michael Fanone and Harry Dunn. They were at the US Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack by pro-Trump rioters.

Fanone believes that this election ultimately centers around Donald Trump and his personal agenda as president. Instead of serving the people who elected him, he acts more like an authoritarian who prioritizes his own interests.

After the trial ends, the president's team plans to intensify their portrayal of Trump as a threat to democracy. This strategy will culminate in the CNN debate on June 27. From the campaign's advertisements to the president's own messaging, the Biden team is prepared to capitalize on the post-trial media coverage to convey their message to the American public before the November elections.

Biden campaign officials are still coming to terms with the fact that many people don't realize the election choice is between Biden and Trump. Despite the uncertainty surrounding Trump's trial outcome, the campaign will adjust its messaging accordingly. However, their case against the former president will remain the same, regardless of the trial's outcome.

De Niro shared the key message of the campaign on Tuesday, criticizing the former president as "a tyrant" and "a coward." He expressed that New Yorkers viewed the former real estate mogul as "just another grubby real estate hustler pretending to be important, a low-quality playboy making false statements in the tabloids."

He explained that his decision to participate in the campaign for a new advertisement released last week was driven by the importance of the upcoming November election.

De Niro explained his motivation for being part of the new Biden-Harris ad, emphasizing the portrayal of Trump's violent tendencies and warning against his megalomania and greed. He highlighted Trump's avoidance of physical confrontations, citing an incident where he sought refuge in the White House bunker during protests instead of facing the situation himself. De Niro pointed out that Trump prefers to manipulate others to carry out his aggressive actions.

According to CNN's report on Friday, the Biden campaign took a bold step forward by releasing a powerful ad titled "Snapped," featuring De Niro as the narrator.

De Niro expresses his concern about Trump's behavior during his presidency, noting that things seemed to spiral out of control. Trump's actions after losing the 2020 election are highlighted in the ad, showing his desperate attempts to hold onto power. The ad features images of the January 6, 2021 insurrection, with phrases like "dictator" and "terminate the Constitution" flashing on screen. A clip of Trump stating, "If I don't get elected, it's going to be a bloodbath," further emphasizes the unsettling nature of his actions.

Fanone, a former Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Officer, shared that he was attacked during the January 6 insurrection. He expressed that he was just one of many officers who were assaulted that day by supporters of Donald Trump. These supporters were motivated by Trump's lies, which Fanone believes are still influencing Americans to turn against each other and against law enforcement.

Dunn, a former US Capitol Police officer, labeled Trump as "the greatest threat to our democracy and the safety of communities across the country today." He highlighted the dangers posed by Trump's actions and rhetoric, emphasizing the need to address these threats to protect our democracy and communities.

"He continues to promote political violence, which is unacceptable. Just today, we were labeled as traitors. Back on January 6, we were all called traitors for simply doing our job," Dunn expressed. "Having a presidential candidate who promotes and supports political violence is dangerous. We cannot tolerate that kind of behavior."

Earlier on Tuesday, Biden's reelection campaign announced that they would be recruiting police officers who were present at the US Capitol on January 6 to campaign for Biden in key battleground states in the upcoming weeks.

Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, officer Danny Hodges, and Officer Dunn will be speaking out about their concerns regarding Trump's threat to democracy and American rights. Both Gonell and Dunn were injured during the Capitol attack and have retired from the Capitol Police. Meanwhile, Officer Hodges is still serving with DC's Metropolitan Police Department.

Editor's P/S:

The Biden campaign's decision to hold a news conference outside the courthouse where Trump's criminal trial was taking place was a calculated move to keep the former president in the spotlight. The presence of actor Robert De Niro and police officers who were present during the January 6th