The Humiliating Republican Hajj to Trump’s Trial

Isaac SchorrMay 21st, 2024, 12:53 pm
 

(Mark Peterson/New York Magazine via AP, Pool)

Six congressmen, one United States senator, and various other assorted Republicans joined former President Donald Trump in Manhattan court — where he faces falsification of business records charges pertaining to hush money payments he made to a porn star, Playboy model, and doorman — on Tuesday morning.

Read that one more time.

Every day, a new group of the faithful make the trek up to New York City to signal their solidarity with Trump.

Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) started the trend earlier this month when he showed up at court to call what Trump is “going through… just despicable.”

“I’m proud of him for standing up for all of us,” he said.

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum asserted that “the American people have already acquitted” Trump during his own trip to New York, while Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) characterized the trial as “a travesty of justice.”

“There’s nothing that has been wrong here. Nothing that has been done poorly by President Trump,” he submitted.

Vivek Ramaswamy reflected that he had “learned a lot from being in there in person” and lamented that the courthouse “is one of the most depressing places I have been in my life.”

“But it is fitting because the only thing more depressing than the environment of that courtroom is what’s actually happening in there,” he added.

But no one would outdo Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), who showed up to support the man he owes his job to and make a play for a promotion last week.

“At Trump trial today,” announced Vance on X before offering his “observations.”

“We started in Trump Tower with a beautiful view of Central Park. Then you come to a dingy court house with people like Alvin Bragg. They prevent his supporters from getting too close to the court house, and they prevent his friends from standing too close to him. The president is expected to sit here for six weeks to listen to the Michael Cohens of the world,” wrote Vance. “I’m now convinced the main goal of this trial is psychological torture. But Trump is in great spirits.”

This post had everything: Googly eyes at Trump Tower, a sob story, and, of course, praise for the man of the hour, day, month, year, decade, and century.

There is more than a grain of truth in what Trump’s pilgrims have to say. The aforementioned Bragg has brought a flimsy case against Trump for transparently political reasons. He’s trying to turn what is at worst a small-fry infraction with an expired statute of limitations for which no one else would be prosecuted into a history-altering crime that could put a former commander-in-chief — one who is currently favored to reprise his old role — behind bars. It’s absurd and grotesque and speaks to progressives’ hypocrisy. Much of their opposition to Trump may be couched in language about norms and the rule of law, but for all too many, that’s just convenient framing.

There is a world of difference, however, between defending Trump on the merits of this case and the blind, slavish, pledges of fealty we see from Republicans today. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) has also criticized Bragg for charging Trump “to fit a political agenda.” But he is in possession of enough self-worth to refrain from dutifully lining up to praise the character of a man who finds himself in court because he cheated on his wife just months after she bore him a son. Is there any doubt that any of the Republicans making the hajj to Trump’s trial in New York would do the same for the more meritorious classified documents case?

Alvin Bragg was wrong to bring this case against Trump. In so doing he has undermined the legitimacy of the other criminal cases against the former president and more importantly, the rule of law itself. But if there’s any silver lining to his mistake, it’s that the GOP’s worst actors are telling on themselves in such an undignified, humiliating manner.

This is an opinion piece. The views expressed in this article are those of just the author.

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