What Donald Trump’s trial date means for the 2024 election
The IndependentThe best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Still, it means that Mr Trump’s legal troubles will make him the centre of attention within the GOP primary and his court case will entirely define that contest as well as the general election. As I wrote last month, North Carolina’s GOP convention happened just as Mr Trump’s indictment was announced and the former president, Mr Pence and Mr DeSantis happened to all be at the event. Meanwhile, if Mr Trump is indeed the nominee, Mr Biden’s campaign will inevitably use every detail of the court case to make the argument that he is uniquely unqualified for the White House. Essentially, by holding the court date right as the primary winds down but as the general election tees up, Judge Cannon has deprived Mr Trump’s Republican opponents of an advantage while handing one to Mr Biden.