Former US President Donald Trump pompously announced a press conference at his golf club in New Jersey for Monday. He should have finally presented the "evidence" that the 2020 elections were stolen in the state of Georgia. And that he was unjustly accused in that country last week.
And then the press conference was laconically cancelled. Trump announced that his lawyers responded by waving papers in front of the cameras, and he claims that he will present them during the trial.
Leading Republicans in Georgia are also watching this performance in disbelief. Last week, Republican Governor Brian Kemp once again wrote on social media:
“There was no fraud in the 2020 Georgia election. For almost three years, no one was found who would be able to present evidence of fraud under oath before the court."
Then again, that doesn't mean that Republicans in Georgia are in deep conflict with Trump. Because, in the second part of his tweet, Kemp also returned to the party line: "2024. the future of our country is at stake and that must be our focus," he wrote, referring to the upcoming presidential elections.
Democrats hope to trip him up
Trump is the overwhelming favorite to win the Republican nomination for a rematch against incumbent President Joe Biden. But many Republicans question whether he is the right choice. Will it, however, lose its popularity at some point?
That's certainly what the Democrats are hoping for. They launched a second impeachment against Trump in January 2021, even though they knew it wouldn't pass.
The idea was to put images of the storming of the Capitol in front of the eyes of ordinary Americans and thus distract them from Trump. As well as the former president's desperate attempts to dispute the result of the election he lost in every way.
But everything turned out the other way around. The accusations only strengthened Trump as the idol of many Americans. As things stand now, in a new duel with Biden, the race would be extremely close. A big return of Trump to the White House is quite possible.
Democrats no longer have reason to hope that the processes against Trump - both at the federal level and in Georgia - could scare away any of his voters. Because there are a number of reasons why Trump has the almost fanatical support of a huge number of people.
Biden is turning voters away
The main reason sits in the White House and his last name is Biden. The deep conviction that his policies are hurting the United States goes beyond the usual Trump electorate.
Many Americans attribute to the Biden administration "uncontrolled immigration", high crime rates in cities, inflation, the feeling that the state acts as a tutor to citizens, skyrocketing spending on the war in Ukraine. Dissatisfaction with Biden is already affecting the Democratic electorate.
A Reuters poll reveals that a fifth of people who voted for Biden in 2020 now say they are not sure they will vote that way again.
Conservative voters are sticking to the motto anyway: Biden has to go. And when they soberly ask themselves who has the best chance of defeating Biden, they come to the answer that it is Trump.
Many also appreciate Trump's moves during his term. He appointed a record number of conservative judges, adding three to the Supreme Court alone, which significantly changed the balance of power in America.
During Trump's reign, US dependence on energy imports has been reduced, taxes have been lowered, jobs have been created, no new wars have been started and reconciliation between Israel and its Arab neighbors has been encouraged. According to the conviction of many, Trump did not only talk - but also acted.
Double cubits?
There is also the issue of double arshins. Nothing annoys Republicans more than the sins of the president's son, Hunter Biden, for which they also blame his father, who allegedly supports dubious and dirty business.
Trump's fans are also annoyed by the fact that confidential documents were also found in Biden's garage, which he was not allowed to take home. And yet, Biden is not tarred and feathered like Trump. That is why the trials against Trump are seen as an indication that the judiciary has become a political instrument.
All of that together is Trump's political capital and bulletproof vest against any criticism, including court proceedings.
Next week, there are two events on the program that could hurt Trump's chances, if only a little. On Wednesday, the Republican challengers are introduced in a debate on Fox News, so there is a possibility that some of them will shine.
The deadline for the accused Trump to appear in person in court in Georgia expires on Friday - what if Trump is photographed there as a common criminal? Because, in Georgia, cameras are allowed in the courtroom, unlike previous proceedings against Trump.
The former president will be on the dock. Will these pictures sway his fans? Experience says it won't.
Bonus video:
