After spending over two weeks attending his New York hush money trial, former President Donald Trump made a comeback to the campaign trail on Wednesday, holding two rallies with distinct approaches.
During a speech in Wisconsin, Trump addressed various topics including inflation, immigration, and college campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas war. However, he spoke very little about the trial that could potentially lead to his conviction and a subsequent prison sentence.
During an evening rally in Michigan, hours later, Trump shifted his focus to a wide range of accusations. He targeted judges, prosecutors, and lawyers who were involved in both the criminal and civil cases against him. Additionally, he directed his criticism towards President Joe Biden.
During a speech in Freeland, Michigan, near Saginaw, President Trump made the claim that Joe Biden wants to imprison him, despite the lack of evidence linking Biden to any legal actions against Trump.
Trump held his first campaign rallies since jury selection began in the New York trial on April 15. Unfortunately, he had to cancel one rally in Wilmington, N.C. on April 20 due to bad weather.
USA TODAY’s top takeaways emerged as President Trump’s courtroom battles and campaign commitments converged this week.
Trump tries to change the subject from indictments to economy
This Article Includes
Before the trial of the former president on charges of falsifying business records began, Trump dedicated a significant amount of time to rallying against the extensive indictments brought against him. However, during his inaugural rally in Waukesha, Wisconsin, Trump shifted his focus away from the criminal charges and instead devoted more attention to topics such as the economy.
During his speech in Wisconsin, Trump focused primarily on the increasing cost of living and made a promise to put an end to what he referred to as Biden’s “inflation death spiral.”
Last month’s crucial inflation report revealed an unforeseen spike in consumer prices. However, experts anticipate that inflation will gradually subside both this year and in 2025.
However, Trump’s emphasis on the economy during his speech on Wednesday may indicate a strategy that Republicans are aiming to utilize in the upcoming 2024 elections. Their plan is to consistently target Democratic opponents on economic matters and the issue of high prices.
During a rally, Trump addressed his supporters and stated, “It’s like an inflation tax.”
In Michigan, Trump not only addressed the economy, with a specific focus on the auto industry, but he also took the opportunity to criticize the legal actions being taken against him.
Addressing campus protests
Trump also addressed the pressing issue of the day, which is the ongoing protests on college campuses across the country regarding the Israel-Hamas war. He criticized Biden, stating that he is nowhere to be found in the midst of these protests.
During his visit to Wisconsin, Trump urged college presidents to take swift action and eliminate the encampments on their campuses. He emphasized the need to reclaim these institutions from radical elements.
In recent days, a group of protestors seized control of a building at Columbia University in New York City, while another incident occurred at the University of California at Los Angeles, where protestors engaged in a brawl.
Biden and his team have condemned the violence and are preparing for a significant presidential address on the ongoing unrest.
Venturing into abortion
In early April, Trump made a statement expressing his belief that states should have the authority to determine their own laws on abortion. He also indicated that he would not support a federal ban on the matter. Democrats view this stance as an opportunity to leverage abortion rights in Biden’s favor during his reelection campaign.
In the weeks following, Trump has mostly refrained from discussing abortion restrictions. However, during his visits to Wisconsin and Michigan, he did defend his position, emphasizing that each state has the right to approach the issue in its own way.
According to Trump, Republican candidates face a considerable risk when it comes to the issue of abortion, and the key to achieving anything is to secure an election victory. In the past few weeks, the former president has expressed his criticism towards Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other prominent Republicans who he believes have taken their support for six-week bans to an extreme level.
During his speech in Wisconsin, Trump expressed his belief that discussing the topic was a positive thing.
Democrats hit Trump on abortion rights
Democrats responded to Trump’s campaign appearances by addressing his remarks on abortion, which is a crucial issue in swing states. They expressed doubts about his ability to follow through on his promise to veto a federal ban on abortion.
According to the reports, it has been observed that Trump proudly boasts about his role in appointing the Supreme Court justices responsible for overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. Furthermore, Trump has openly expressed his support for state initiatives aimed at restricting access to abortions.
According to a memo from the Biden campaign, it was highlighted that Trump made an appearance in suburban Waukesha County. The memo emphasized the importance of improving margins in this crucial county as Trump’s chances of winning Wisconsin heavily rely on it. However, the memo pointed out that Trump’s support for extreme abortion bans, his attacks on democracy, and his threats to the state economy have been driving away voters in this area.
Addressing criminal trials
During his speech in Michigan, Trump didn’t overlook the four trials he is currently facing. However, he primarily focused on discussing his criminal charges and civil trials. Without providing any evidence, he continued to claim that these legal proceedings are a form of election interference.
In his recent speech, President Trump addressed the accusations of improperly influencing the 2016 election by paying hush money to women to keep quiet about affairs. Surprisingly, he spent less time than usual denouncing what he refers to as the “weaponization” of law enforcement.
“He addressed the three other cases against him, including his alleged mishandling of classified documents and attempts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden, stating that there was no crime involved.”
Trump is anticipated to maintain his campaign activities during the trial, focusing particularly on battleground states such as Wisconsin and Michigan.
The highly anticipated hush trial is set to continue on Thursday in New York, with expectations that it will span for at least another month.
In a text message sent right after the Wisconsin appearance, Trump confidently declared, “You can’t keep me off stage.”
On his day off from the hush money trial, Donald Trump takes to the campaign trail: 4 key points to consider
