For the past week, Americans of all political stripes have been debating just how Trump’s two indictments will affect his election chances. Of course, the die hard MAGA supporters in and out of Congress are convinced that it will make him more popular and pretty much guarantee his re-election. Those on more progressive end are sure that this is when the walls will finally cave in. Then there is the rest of us.
The election isn’t for another year and a half. The first primary votes won’t even happen for seven months. Anyone who follows politics knows that such a stretch in time is a “lifetime” in politics. Events will certainly have an impact on what happens. But, for now, there have been some very telling signs right in front of our eyes that are giving us a clue into how Trump’s viability as a candidate is doing.
Trump blasted out messages to his MAGA followers before each indictment. He wanted them there, in solidarity with him, as he was arraigned in New York and Miami. He wanted protests at both locations. That was clear.
They didn’t show up.
Some might write this off using various excuses, but one thing Trump’s supporters have been consistent about is showing up when he calls them to.
That point wasn’t lost on Lawrence O’Donnell, someone who has been around the political game a very long time.
O’Donnell said that’s bad news for Trump ― and that the former president has to now be painfully aware of the fact that his minions aren’t showing up at his command anymore for his protests.
“Trump knows better than any of us: They’re not coming,” he said, then referred to the potential scene of a next possible indictment: “They won’t come to Georgia. They’re not coming. That stuff is completely over… he doesn’t have that anymore.”
He could very well be right.
O’Donnell’s colleague, Dr. Rachel Maddow had similar comments and offered some more insight. She began by pointing out how Trump and his allies have been “warning” everyone about violence, civil war, and that the MAGA crowd “wouldn’t stand for” Trump being indicted.
“Turns out the people of the United States would stand for it,” Maddow said, she noted that there were no “mass protests” in Miami, just as there were just a very small number of supporters outside the site of his arrest in New York in March.
In fact, it is said that the media outnumbered protesters in Miami.
“There’s no shame in not having people protest your arrest and indictment,” she said. “Except when you have begged people to, and told people to, and in fact promised publicly that people would.”
