Trump's Allies Rally in Support at Hush Money Trial, Setting a New GOP Standard

When his trial for hush money started in April, ex-President Donald Trump felt that not many of his allies were there to support him, as per GOP sources.

However, now, many of Trump's supporters are showing up in large numbers at the Manhattan courtroom.

While Trump has not directly requested anyone to attend his trial, sources have revealed that his frustrations have reached Capitol Hill. This has prompted his strongest supporters to take action and show their solidarity with Trump during this challenging time. Some have even reached out to Trump's team, expressing their willingness to defend the former president in New York and inquiring about how they can participate in the courtroom proceedings.

GOP Sen. Rick Scott from Florida was the first lawmaker to travel to New York last week in support of Trump. He was soon joined by House Speaker Mike Johnson, who has faced criticism from his own party members. Additionally, a group of Republicans, all dressed in matching navy suits with red ties, also showed up to demonstrate their unity with Trump. Whether this coordinated effort was intentional or coincidental, it certainly showcased their strong support for the former president.

Their appearances have sparked a natural movement among Republicans. Trump's team is receiving a lot of interest from lawmakers and organizing campaign events with his supporters in the city before and after trial appearances.

A Trump adviser told CNN, “There’s been a flood of people wanting to come and show support for him, and we anticipate more.”

The pilgrimage to Trump’s criminal trial in New York has become a new litmus test for Trump loyalty within the GOP. It's a way for participants to earn brownie points with their party's presumptive presidential nominee and also gain visibility. Some members, like Johnson and GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, are even using their appearances to fundraise.

According to Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, who attended the trial, Republicans are showing support for Trump, who they believe is being unfairly persecuted. Norman emphasized that this kind of injustice could happen to any American and should not be tolerated. Trump is seen as a fighter standing firm, and Republicans want to show their backing for him.

Attending court with Trump has also turned into an opportunity to potentially join a future Trump administration. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, who are being considered for vice president, have been seen at the court this week.

One GOP lawmaker mentioned that supporting someone in a criminal trial is not typically part of a congressional office's routine. However, after seeing Rick Scott, J.D., and Vivek Ramaswamy do it, others started to follow suit. It all happened naturally.

Former President Donald Trump, accompanied by his attorney Todd Blanche and Sen. Rick Scott, arrived at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 9 for his trial related to allegations of covering up hush money payments in New York City.

Jeenah Moon/Pool/Getty Images

‘We’ve got your back’

The House Freedom Caucus, a group of far-right members representing Trump's closest allies in Congress, recently made a trip to New York.

They notified the Trump team in advance that they would be arriving with a large group on Thursday, despite the House being in session. The lawmakers wanted to meet with the former president before court proceedings began that day, as per a source familiar with the arrangements.

The meeting at Trump Tower lasted about 30 minutes, with sources mentioning that Trump's son Eric was also in attendance. The members provided the former president with encouragement before his trial and discussed the future of government funding. Specifically, they talked about his preference for the length of a short-term government funding patch that would be necessary after September 30, in the event that Trump were to regain the White House in November.

After the meeting, GOP members joined Trump in his motorcade. This included the Republican candidate who is challenging GOP Rep. Bob Good, who had initially endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis but later tried to align himself with Trump. They wanted to create a grand entrance for the former president as he arrived for court that day, surrounded by a group of his supporters.

The lawmakers stopped by the cameras outside the courthouse to criticize the prosecutors and witnesses, trying to weaken the case. This was a way for them to support Trump, who is not allowed to speak publicly due to a gag order.

GOP Rep. Andy Ogles expressed their support by saying, "Mr. President, we’ve got your back," outside the courthouse.

Even though 11 Republican House members rode in Trump's motorcade to New York, the Trump campaign official clarified that their travel expenses were not covered by the campaign. Instead, in some instances, the individual campaign committees of the Congress members themselves paid for the travel.

It remains uncertain what involvement the US Capitol Police had in ensuring the security of the members during their trip to and from New York. When asked about providing additional security services, a spokesperson for the USCP declined to comment.

Norman mentioned that Trump did not ask anyone to go, and everyone volunteered. They all paid for their own expenses, and Trump did not contribute financially. Additionally, Trump did not instruct them on what to say. Many individuals involved in the situation believe that it is time to put an end to it.

U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) speaks during a press conference after attending the trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump for allegedly covering up hush money payments linked to extramarital affair with Stormy Daniels, at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, U.S., May 16, 2024.

U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) talked to the press after being present at the trial of former U.S. President Donald Trump. The trial was about accusations of hiding payments to keep quiet about an affair with Stormy Daniels. It took place at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, U.S., on May 16, 2024.

Andrew Kelly/Reuters

Legislating takes a back seat to Trump loyalty test

But to attend the trial, the lawmakers left their day jobs behind.

There were a lot of GOP lawmakers in New York showing their support for Trump. This led to a situation where, for a few hours on Thursday, there were actually more House Democrats than Republicans on Capitol Hill.

It was a significant day in the House, with the House Judiciary and Oversight committees scheduled to review reports. These reports aimed to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for not sharing the audio tapes of President Joe Biden's interviews with special counsel Robert Hur - a major focus for the right.

GOP Representatives Matt Gaetz and Andy Biggs were absent from the Judiciary committee markup. Meanwhile, the House Oversight panel had to delay their start time to 8pm to accommodate members returning from New York.

In addition, a House vote was scheduled for a GOP-led bill to provide defensive weapons to Israel. This comes as Republicans increase pressure on President Biden regarding his handling of the conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Gaetz, Boebert, and GOP Representative Anna Paulina Luna, who were all in New York on Thursday, missed the vote.

The Oversight markup, also known as "Oversight after dark" according to some Democrats, began on Thursday night and quickly descended into chaos. GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stirred controversy by making personal attacks on Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett's looks and Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's intelligence. This led to a heated argument during the committee meeting.

Some Republican lawmakers have speculated that Greene's mood may be influenced by her frustration with colleagues, particularly the speaker, who have publicly supported the president during his trial but have not always backed her on certain Trump-favored policies.

According to a source who has heard her express her opinion, Greene is unimpressed with those who have only recently come to Trump's defense.

Greene was the first Republican lawmaker to stand by Trump in New York when he was indicted in March 2023. He seemed especially upset with Boebert, who had been present at Trump's trial that morning and then sided with Democrats during the markup to stop Greene from speaking more.

According to a source, "Lauren Boebert has been in Marjorie Taylor Greene's shadow for nearly four years and is trying to hold on to any bit of relevance she can find."

Boebert, who apologized to the American people after Greene’s outburst, defended both her vote to try and silence Greene and her decision to travel to Trump’s trial in New York. However, her trip did not affect the committee’s ability to move forward with the contempt resolution.

During the markup, Boebert expressed feeling embarrassed by what was happening. She felt ashamed that such behavior was taking place while important matters were being addressed. Boebert emphasized the significance of addressing the concerns of the American people and holding the federal government accountable.

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the unwavering support that former President Donald Trump continues to receive from his loyal followers during his ongoing criminal trial. Amidst initial skepticism, Trump's supporters have rallied around him, traveling to New York and engaging in demonstrations of solidarity outside the courtroom. This resurgence of support serves as a testament to Trump's enduring influence within the Republican Party and his ability to galvanize his base.

Beyond the emotional outpouring, the article also sheds light on the strategic maneuvering behind the scenes. Trump's allies have recognized the trial as a political opportunity, using it to curry favor with the former president and gain visibility within the party. By publicly aligning themselves with Trump, these lawmakers are positioning themselves for potential roles in a future Trump administration or seeking to bolster their own political standing. The article raises questions about the ethical implications of lawmakers prioritizing their political ambitions over their legislative responsibilities, as demonstrated by their absence from important congressional proceedings.