In a bizarre spectacle, Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York has become a platform for MAGA loyalists to showcase their support, with the former president handpicking his audience each day.
The latest attendees included three prominent Republicans – North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and Rep. Byron Donalds – who arrived just in time to witness the most incriminating evidence presented against Trump yet.
This trio, all potential vice presidential candidates, seemed more interested in displaying their allegiance than following the proceedings.
As Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and star witness, took the stand, the three Republicans sat attentively, dressed in matching dark suits, white shirts, and red ties. Cohen’s testimony confirmed the details of Trump’s cover-up, including fake legal invoices and hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.
The prosecutor presented evidence, including invoices and checks, which Cohen authenticated, implicating Trump in the scandal.
The three Republicans watched intently, with Burgum and Donalds fixated on the screens displaying the evidence. Ramaswamy, however, seemed disinterested, fiddling with something in his lap and never once glancing at the screens.
As the prosecution presented the damning evidence, the trio’s reactions ranged from rapt attention to disinterest, raising questions about their motivations for attending the trial.
The spectacle has sparked criticism, with many seeing it as a political stunt rather than a genuine show of support for Trump’s innocence.
The trial’s outcome may have significant implications for Trump’s presidential campaign and the Republican Party as a whole. As the proceedings continue, it remains to be seen how far Trump’s allies will go to defend him and what consequences their actions may have.