No one held the door open for him as he walked into the courtroom; he had to keep it open with his left hand.
The judge was on the dais, elevated above the former president. No one in authority throughout his presidency had been above Trump and holding more power for what went on in any room than Trump had had.
Donald J. Trump, the 45th president of the United States, was at a table seated in the middle of four lawyers assisting him. His table was level with the prosecution’s table on to his right. This is why Trump wore a scowl throughout. There was no banter; he even declined to talk to the camera on the side of the corridor he walked to get into the courtroom.
That never happens.
Trump’s demeanor reflected not only his anger but also his understanding that, at least for now, this could not be brought under his control. So the day ended with another ghost-of-OJ-Simpson-roaming-the-LA-freeways sky cam video chase on his plane and his retinue of cars as they whisked him into the safety of Mar-a-Lago.
And there Trump unloaded. Just 30 minutes. Not your normal Fidel-like stemwinder. But the anger, the reach for retribution, the rage, were evident throughout.
No, Trump did not talk about the issues facing the country and what he would do if returned to the presidency to deal with them. What Trump was clear on was his intent to wreak vengeance on his persecutors. The judge had cautioned Trump not to incite any violence against the court and the proceedings, and not to place by his words any of the legal officers of the court in any danger. But that did not pose any speed bump to Trump’s eruptions against the Manhattan District Attorney who had the temerity to bring an indictment, or against the judge, who had the gall to hold the legal proceeding, and their families and their associates. Trump lamented his ordeal with unrestrained contempt.
At the end of this legal proceeding, whenever that occurs, either this year through a dismissal of the charges or next year through an acquittal or a conviction or a hung jury, there will be a reckoning. And Trump is determined not only to win but to crush his adversaries.
Where does last week’s spectacle leave Trump at this stage of his march to be nominated a third time by the Republican party for the presidency?
Trump is as cunning and canny as ever, and he never lets his opponents have any room to get outside the shackles he has placed across the party.
The consensus at least among most Republicans in the wake of Trump’s lighting the fuse on the indictment, by claiming 10 days before it happened that DA Alvin Bragg was coming to arrest him, was that this was a weak case. A political case. A two-bit witch hunt for sure, even more frivolous than the illegitimate investigations of Ukraine and Robert Mueller and the Russians. Almost a joke. That aggregation of scorn made it easy for Trump to get his field marshals out there denouncing the Manhattan DA, creating a wave of support for Trump against the politics of this persecution. To date there have been no audible voices among Republicans in Congress saying that Trump had this indictment coming.
That political exercise closed the door, at least for the moment, on any momentum any of the Republican hopefuls – Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Asa Hutchinson, Tim Scott, Chris Sununu, and Ron DeSantis – held that they could get some lightning under their campaigns.
The party locked around Trump and drew up the drawbridges to the castle.
Trump now has a potent precedent to how to play the politics for the bigger guns that are aimed at him:
The pending potential indictments in Georgia, for Trump’s alleged role in interfering with the certification of the vote in that state in the 2020 presidential election, and for Trump’s alleged obstruction of justice and mishandling of classified documents after leaving the White House. Those indictments, if in fact they are forthcoming in the next few weeks, are much more loaded with much more serious abuses of power. But indictments #2 and #3 would only reinforce the Republican armour Trump erected around him in the Manhattan courtroom.
Former President Donald Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago estate Tuesday, April 4, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla., after being arraigned earlier in the day in New York City. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The polling over the past several days reinforces this reality. Over 70% of Republican voters believe Trump should be returned to the presidency. Trump is over 50% support in a match-up against DeSantis. No other candidate has broken single digits.
So if Trump really is the loser so many of his competitors for the White House think he is – that he ruined Republican majorities in 2018 (when Trump lost control of the House). 2020 (when Trump lost the presidency), and 2022 (when Trump kept Republicans from winning the Senate) – and you want the party to turn the page and get on with Trumpism without Trump, what are you going to do about it?
To reiterate this memo to Republican candidates as the former president faces indictment: You want the nomination? Trump is not going away.
You have to take it from him. You have to beat him. You have to tell America why Trump must not be president. You have to take Trump down. Or you lose.
And where does this leave Joe Biden and the Democrats? The president has no opposition to his renomination. The president is being president, routing his achievement across the country, asserting US leadership in Ukraine and across the globe, rallying Middle America on guns and abortion rights, working to get that “soft landing” for the economy as interest rates reach their peak while jobs growth is maintained – in other words, claiming and holding the centre of American politics, which is where elections are won and lost. Yes, Biden is old, and most American believe he is too old. Most Americans wish the Democrats would nominate someone else. Yes, Biden’s approval is stuck in the low 40s.
US President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the Cummins Power Generation Facility in Fridley, Minnesota, on April 3, 2023. – Biden is visiting Minnesota as a part of his administration’s Investing in America tour. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)
But against Trump? A man who may spend more days in court early next year than on the campaign trail?
Biden was supposed to announce his campaign for re-nomination right after the Christmas break. But it didn’t happen. It may not happen until the northern summer, or even later. Why not keep being the president soaring above it all?
So this week, Biden is headed to Ireland this week, to celebrate heritage and the values that made Biden, Biden.
And Trump? He wished everyone a happy Easter. “Happy Easter to all, including those that dream endlessly of destroying our country … [and] to all of those weak & pathetic rinos, radical left democrats, socialists marxists, & communists who are killing our nation, remember, we will be back!”
Bruce Wolpe is a Ticker News US political contributor. He’s a Senior Fellow at the US Studies Centre and has worked with Democrats in Congress during President Barack Obama's first term, and on the staff of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He has also served as the former PM's chief of staff.
World leaders and CEOs converge at Paris AI summit to discuss advancements and the future of technology.
In Short
World leaders and CEOs met in Paris to discuss the rapid advancements and implications of artificial intelligence. The summit focused on collaboration, ethical guidelines, and strategies to prepare for an AI-driven future.
World leaders and CEOs convened in Paris at an AI summit to discuss the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.
The event brought together key figures from various sectors to explore the implications of AI technology.
Topics of discussion included the potential benefits of AI, regulatory frameworks, and ethical considerations around its deployment.
Participants highlighted the need for collaboration between governments and the private sector to harness AI responsibly.
The summit aimed to foster dialogue on the challenges and opportunities presented by AI advancements.
OpenAI’s Sam Altman rejects Musk’s $97.4 billion bid, calling it competitive, as tensions rise with conflicting interests.
In Short
OpenAI has rejected Elon Musk’s $97.4 billion takeover bid, viewing it as a competitive strategy. The company’s CEO, Sam Altman, and its board members, including Bret Taylor, have ongoing rivalries with Musk amid broader industry dynamics.
OpenAI has officially rejected Elon Musk’s $97.4 billion takeover bid.
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, described Musk’s offer as a competitive strategy rather than a genuine acquisition attempt.
The board of OpenAI, which manages both its nonprofit and for-profit sectors, has not received any formal communication regarding the bid from Musk.
Currently, OpenAI is in the process of raising a funding round that could elevate its valuation to $300 billion, nearly double its previous worth.
A notable point of contention arises from Bret Taylor, former chairman of Twitter, who now oversees OpenAI’s board and has previously had disagreements with Musk over the Twitter acquisition.
In response to the takeover bid, Altman light-heartedly remarked on social media: “No thank you, but we’ll buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want.”
This exchange highlights ongoing rivalries in the tech sector and the strategic manoeuvres of influential figures like Musk and Altman.
As the landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact both OpenAI and Musk’s future endeavours.
Rising cyber scams target Ticketmaster users and exploiting emotional connections.
In Short
Cyber scams targeting Ticketmaster users are on the rise, exploiting emotions and rushing fans into poor decisions. To avoid falling victim, individuals should verify offers, access official websites, and enhance security with measures like two-factor authentication.
Cyber scams targeting Ticketmaster users are increasing, causing significant vulnerability to fraud.
The rise of these scams is linked to three vulnerabilities: emotional connections to performances, reliance on digital platforms, and ease of access to scams.
Scammers exploit the fear of missing out (FOMO), particularly during high-demand events like Taylor Swift’s concerts.
Fans often rush into purchasing tickets without verifying the legitimacy of the offers, leading to poor decision-making.
If someone falls victim to a scam, their recourse is limited, often relying on Ticketmaster or other platforms for support.
Many fraudulent websites mimic legitimate ticket sellers, tricking users into entering personal information.
To avoid falling for scams, individuals should take their time, scrutinise offers, and ensure they access official websites directly.
Steve Tcherchian, Chief Product Officer and Chief Information Security Officer at XYPRO joins to discuss how to counter these cyber attacks.
Implementing two-factor authentication on ticketing platforms provides an additional layer of security.
While there are no guarantees to stop scams, ticket platforms must enhance their security measures.
Issues with customer service and support during scams can exacerbate the situation for victims.