Former President Donald J. Trump is set to go on trial in Manhattan on Monday, but President Biden and his allies are expected to remain relatively quiet on the matter.
For Democrats, the fact that a former president is facing criminal charges related to a sex scandal from the 2016 campaign speaks volumes on its own. The media coverage surrounding the trial is expected to be extensive, especially if Mr. Trump decides to testify, as he has suggested. While Mr. Trump faces potentially up to eight weeks in court, President Biden will be focusing on his campaign activities and utilizing a “Rose Garden strategy” to govern from the White House. This contrast is something that the president’s team hopes will resonate positively with voters.
The decision to keep a low profile regarding the criminal indictments against Mr. Trump stems from concerns about influencing the cases improperly or fueling Mr. Trump’s unfounded claims that President Biden orchestrated the charges against him. Democratic groups supporting the Biden campaign are opting to focus on promoting Mr. Biden’s accomplishments and highlighting Mr. Trump’s perceived threats to democracy in their advertising campaigns.
While Mr. Trump’s trial will undoubtedly be closely monitored, the voter interest in the proceedings appears to be limited. Some polls suggest that voters do not consider this specific case as serious as other indictments against Mr. Trump. However, Democratic groups are prepared to react swiftly to Mr. Trump’s behavior in court and capitalize on any opportunities to communicate their messages via social media.
As Mr. Trump faces trial, President Biden will continue his campaign activities in Pennsylvania, with stops in Scranton, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. This strategic move is aimed at creating a favorable split-screen scenario for Democrats. While there is a possibility that President Biden may comment on the trial, Democrats are cautious about not being drawn into discussions about Mr. Trump’s legal troubles.
The focus may shift if Mr. Trump is convicted in the Manhattan case or if the federal election interference case against him progresses to trial. For now, many Democrats view Mr. Trump’s presence in a Manhattan courtroom as a potent reminder of the extremism within the Republican Party.
Contributions to this reporting were made by Lisa Lerer, Ruth Igielnik, and Michael Gold.
April 15, 2024
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An earlier version of this article referred incorrectly to a recent New York Times/Siena College poll. It found that one-quarter of voters said they were paying “a lot” of attention to Mr. Trump’s legal cases broadly, not only to his case in Manhattan.
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