The former US president wants to rejoin the race for the White House for the Republicans in 2024. But the coming year could bring Trump a lot of trouble.
Everything seemed perfect for Donald Trump to launch his great political comeback in 2022. His Democratic opponent Joe Biden was more unpopular than ever due to inflation, the pandemic and the crime rate. But then followed a series of disasters for the ex-president.
His right-wing populist senate candidates suffered heavy defeats in November’s congressional elections, his dinner with Kanye West and a Holocaust denier alienated even die-hard fans.
Trump was ‘leading cause of storm at Capitol’
The outlook for 2023 looks even bleaker for Trump — not least because of his now-released tax returns, special counsel’s investigations, and most importantly because of the final report of the Commission of Inquiry. It recommends that the US Justice Department prosecute Trump for the storming of the US Capitol by his supporters on January 6, 2021, making Trump the “central cause of the events of January 6.”
Trump is charged with, among other things, inciting rebellion against state authority or the law. If convicted, he faces 10 years in prison and a ban from ever holding political office again. However, Trump’s biggest problem for 2023 is not criminal, but political. He continues to lose ground to his major opponent, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. He is the first Republican since 2015 to lead conservative voters in polls — by a whopping 33 percentage points. While Trump’s supporters love his conservative politics, selfish tendencies and numerous missteps have driven them to the DeSantis camp. His nickname is “Trump with brains”.
That is why the publication of Trump’s tax returns by a committee of inquiry in the US House of Representatives was a disaster for the ex-president. They prove that the self-proclaimed business genius is more of a bankruptcy vulture and has exploited all the tax loopholes. Something that also does not sit well with his core voters, white men without a university degree.
Ultimately, Trump’s chances are far from over. Because it is even quite possible that – just like in 2015 – many Republican candidates will take each other’s anti-Trump votes. This would clear the way for Trump, provided he is not convicted of the coup and banned from voting.
From “Krone” US correspondent Christian Thiele
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
