Trump's Dual Focus: Juggling Courtroom Battles and Campaigning as 2024 Voting Approaches

Donald Trump is using the final stretch before the Iowa caucuses to emphasize his allegations of political persecution, attempting to divert attention from his Republican competitors who are falling behind. This week, Trump is set to balance courtroom appearances with campaign events, serving as a symbol of an entire election overshadowed by the legal troubles of the former president.

His campaign's central focus on his false claim of winning the 2020 election, which is central to two of his four impending criminal trials, and his direct calls for "retribution" have made him the strongest front-runner for a presidential nomination in years. This has also complicated the efforts of his main rivals, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who are set to debate on CNN this week, to disqualify him as a strong nominee.

Although Trump's rhetoric alienates many Americans, his refusal to adhere to decorum and recognize the constraints of the rule of law is a crucial part of his appeal to disillusioned grassroots Republican voters. With Trump, who is facing 91 criminal charges across four separate cases, on the path toward a third consecutive nomination, the January 15 Iowa caucuses will symbolize the significant intersection between the former president's legal troubles and the 2024 election.

On December 7, 2023, in New York City, former U.S. President Donald Trump was seen sitting at the defense table in New York State Supreme Court with his attorneys Christopher Kise (L) and Alina Habba (R). (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez-Pool/Getty Images)

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Key Trump legal dates to watch this week

Trump's growing autocratic tendencies, evident in his recent events, seem to support President Joe Biden's warning that Trump could threaten US democracy if he wins the November election - a central focus of Biden's campaign.

The coming weeks will reveal the extent to which the nation's future is linked to Trump, who is indicating that he would be an even more unrestrained force in a second term, during which he would likely attempt to dismiss federal charges against him.

An extraordinary clash of legal and political worlds

This week alone will see his expected arrival in Washington, DC, for a crucial appeals court hearing in his federal election interference case, as well as his anticipated presence in New York for the closing arguments in a civil fraud trial.

No previous candidate for president has faced legal battles in the days leading up to the first nominating contest as Trump has. His ability to run for office under these legal challenges stems from his lifelong pattern of avoiding accountability. His determination to use the White House for personal retribution will be indicated by his legal team arguing in a federal appeals court on Tuesday that his post-2020 election actions are protected by presidential immunity and should not be the basis for prosecution. While this defense is unlikely to succeed, as it implies that future presidents could commit crimes to maintain power, it reflects Trump's belief that the presidency carries almost unlimited power, which is contrary to American principles.

Trump has plans to attend a hearing and will also be in court in New York on Thursday for the start of final arguments in a civil fraud trial targeting him, his adult sons, and the Trump organization, according to multiple sources who spoke to CNN. In between these appearances, he is scheduled to fly on his private jetliner back to Iowa on Wednesday before making another trip to the Hawkeye State over the weekend, just before the first voting in a 2024 election season that is expected to put the US political system to a historic test.

Trump has used his criminal indictments and civil fraud trial in New York as a platform for his campaign narrative, claiming to be an innocent victim of justice akin to a banana republic. He has effectively dominated coverage of the GOP campaign, giving a likely preview of how he will handle this week.

Haley and DeSantis are desperate to find a way to slow the Trump train

DeSantis and Haley face a tough challenge this week as they attempt to stop Trump's campaign, which is currently leading in the polls in Iowa and other locations, amidst the contrast between court activities and campaign rallies.

The opponents will face off in a CNN debate in Iowa on Wednesday night, marking the most pivotal moment in their campaigns so far, as they strive for strong performances in Iowa and the subsequent New Hampshire primary to stay competitive. Meanwhile, the ex-president will be absent, opting to participate in the secure setting of a Fox News town hall event in Iowa.

From left, Donald Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis campaign in Iowa.

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GOP candidates DeSantis and Haley criticized Trump for avoiding debates and public appearances, but have not openly condemned his actions on January 6, 2021, and have not portrayed him as a danger to democracy.

Haley refers to her "chaos," a stark contrast to Trump as she debuted a new ad in Iowa, portraying a president with grit and grace, a different style, not a name from the past. Meanwhile, DeSantis made an indirect jab at Trump by addressing the false belief of many GOP voters that the 2020 election was stolen, criticizing the ex-president for not having a plan to ensure election integrity and warning against a repeat of the 2020 election.

Is Trump playing into Bidens hands?

Haley and DeSantis' cautious and indirect criticisms reveal their reluctance to upset GOP voters who still support Trump, even if they are open to other candidates. They have also been unable to muster the bravery or political skill to capitalize on the former president's potential weakness in the general election during the primary race.

Trump's recent disruptive behavior at his campaign events bolstered Biden's warnings of a democracy in danger, delivered on Friday at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, the site where Gen. George Washington prepared his army to face the powerful British king during the Revolutionary War.

In response, Trump accused Biden in his usual style, claiming that Biden was a threat to democracy due to incompetence and interference in the elections, likening the tactics to his own criminal indictments. "He's a menace to democracy because he's incompetent. … I mean, they're, they're tampering with our elections. They're engaging in unprecedented weaponization with the DOJ, with the FBI," Trump stated at a campaign event in Des Moines on Saturday.

His remark reflects the ex-president's bold inclination to distort the truth and manipulate history for his own benefit. On the third anniversary of the day his supporters stormed the US Capitol in a brazen attempt to overturn Biden's election victory, he continues to advocate for the destruction of the Constitution, endorse the execution of military leaders, and promise retribution against his enemies if elected for a second term. This behavior, which has previously alienated crucial swing-state voters, is something the Biden campaign hopes will underscore the contrast between the ex-president and the current administration, potentially offsetting his own lack of popularity in a general election.

Trump delivered a troubling and inconsistent speech regarding the possibility of preventing the Civil War and belittled the late Sen. John McCain's Vietnam War injuries. He also expressed anger over his legal issues, criticizing special counsel Jack Smith and making derogatory remarks about his accuser E. Jean Carroll. The impact of his rhetoric on the American public, fueling distrust in the electoral system and perpetuating the belief that the 2020 election was stolen, poses a serious threat to the legitimacy of future US elections and the democratic process. These efforts have been bolstered by conservative media, with a recent poll showing that a significant portion of Republicans and independents falsely believe that the FBI was involved in the attack on the Capitol.

The erosion of truth and trust was a primary concern in Biden's speech at Valley Forge. "The defense, protection, and preservation of American democracy will remain, as it has been, the central cause of my presidency," Biden stated, emphasizing the significance of his words as he warned that nearly 250 years of democratic traditions could be at risk. President Biden will further emphasize this message during his visit to Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, the site of a racially motivated mass shooting in 2015. This visit serves as an implicit appeal to Black voters, who played a crucial role in his 2020 primary campaign and amidst recent signs of waning support from minorities. Biden is expected to highlight the devastating human consequences of political violence and racial rhetoric, even if the massacre occurred before the previous president's election.

Biden's main political concern is whether his call for Americans to save the nation's soul will overcome doubts about his age and ability to serve a second term, as well as public discontent with the economy despite recent positive data on inflation and job growth. The 2024 political season has already begun, and it's evident that the election will focus on both America's character and its political future, in addition to more typical issues.

Biden emphasized the significance of the upcoming national election, calling it the first since the January 6 insurrection that threatened American democracy. He posed the question of identity, stating, "We all know who Donald Trump is. The question we have to answer is: Who are we? That's what's at stake. Who are we?"