Navigating Trump's Trial: The Delicate Challenge for New Republican Candidates

Last weekend, I joined former White House Ethics lawyer Jim Schultz on NBC10’s “Issues” segment to discuss the implications of Donald Trump's impending trial. His indictment presents a unique challenge for the new Republican candidates in the forthcoming election. They will need to carefully thread a very small needle - that is, determining how to criticize the former president’s actions without alienating a substantial portion of their potential voting base.

Ultimately, whether or not the indictment and trial will hurt Trump politically is up to how the rest of the party — and new candidates — react. 

The political repercussions of Trump’s trial have become impossible not to ignore. Some candidates have already begun to argue for another Trump presidency, whether intentionally or not, by labeling the trial as a politically charged “witch hunt”. On the other hand, candidates like Governor Chris Christie have tactfully started to underscore the negatives surrounding Trump. However, it's important to note that few candidates can commit as openly to anti-Trump rhetoric as Christie has done; considering a stance too harsh against Trump might eliminate their candidacy before the race has even begun.

This political landscape is certainly high-stakes because Trump remains a dominant figure in the Republican field. According to CNN, 47% of Republicans and Republican-leaning voters still consider Trump their first choice. The stakes, however, extend far beyond the primaries. While most Americans believe that the indictment should completely disqualify Trump, his political future truly lies in the hands of the voters since they are the jurors in this case. Although supporters might overlook the controversies during the primaries, it's uncertain how this will play out in the general election. As for how the former president will fare against the rest of the nation, that remains to be seen.