Special Poll
On Monday, as former President Donald Trump attended the first day of his trial in New York City concerning alleged hush money payments, a group of politicians considered potential vice presidential candidates for his 2024 campaign publicly supported him. These politicians, some of whom Trump has acknowledged as potential running mates, launched a defense, framing the trial as a politically motivated attack by Democrats intended to disrupt the upcoming election.
Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, regarded as a leading contender for Trump’s vice presidential slot, took to the social media platform X to denounce the proceedings. “What the radical Left is doing is not just election interference, it’s election engineering,” Scott stated, suggesting that the efforts against Trump were doomed to fail.
Representative Elise Stefanik from New York also voiced her disapproval, criticizing the judge overseeing the case as biased and connected to Democratic interests. She described the trial as a protracted spectacle orchestrated for political gain. “Total election interference,” Stefanik asserted.
Senator JD Vance from Ohio echoed these sentiments, labeling the trial as a manipulation of the electoral process and sharply criticizing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s approach to the case as a violation of legal standards and justice.
Governor Doug Burgum of North Dakota, also mentioned by Trump as a possible vice presidential choice, appeared on CNN to defend Trump, arguing that the legal action represented an unprecedented and unfair attack on a political figure, which wouldn’t be happening if it involved any other American businessperson.
These robust defenses highlight the ongoing competition among those vying for the vice presidential nomination under Trump, underscoring the premium he places on absolute loyalty. The situation also demonstrates how Trump’s campaign strategy involves mobilizing other Republican figures to speak out while he is engaged in court proceedings, which are set to continue four days a week for the next several weeks.
This trial is notable as Trump is the first former or current U.S. president to face a criminal trial. He faces 34 counts of falsifying business records related to payments made to his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, who paid $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election to prevent her from going public about an alleged affair with Trump, an accusation he denies. Jury selection is underway and opening arguments are anticipated to follow soon. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in the matter.