“It doesn’t look good”
Finally, acceptance has reared its head and landed in Donald Trump’s inner circle. The New York Times says there is a sense of resignation among those closest to Trump that he will be found guilty. Maggie Haberman describes it as an “aura of doom,” with hushed conversations and tense expressions becoming the norm.
Hope is reportedly diminishing that Donald Trump will walk out of that courtroom having beaten the charges. Initially, there was a glimmer of hope among Trump’s inner circle, a hope for a hung jury. However, as the trial progresses, this hope is dimming, flickering out like a lone ember, replaced by the stark reality that a criminal convict could potentially represent the Republican party in the 2024 election.
The same are said to be deeply concerned and very worried about how a conviction will affect the presidential race since so many voters say they will not vote for a convicted criminal.
“It doesn’t look good.” They are worried about not just the verdict but also the whole legal process, which they see as damaging for Trump. Haberman says these people see the process as “its own punishment.”
It’s also reportedly scaring these people to see the image of a larger-than-life villain revealed for what he REALLY is—a stale and shrunken powerless dude who may drag the GOP down on down-ballot races as well.
The New York Times described perfectly the somber, sterile atmosphere of the court and the criminal defendant.
“Mr. Trump has often seemed to fade into the back-round in a light wood -paneled room with harsh florescent lighting and a perpetual smell of sour, coffee-laced breath wafting throughout.”
A far cry from his days on “The Apprentice”, wouldn’t you say? As those closest to Donald Trump see that image repeated on a loop, day after day, they realize they’re having their own version of Groundhog Day, a never-ending cycle of disappointment and concern, and this daily look is hurting the GOP party quite severely.