Trump becomes the first President in the history of the United States to be charged with a crime.
Former President of the United States Donald Trump was charged by a grand jury in New York City on Thursday, where he faces more than 30 counts related to business fraud.
The news is a seminal moment in American politics, with Trump’s indictment being the first time in the nation’s 245 year history that a current or former President has faced criminal charges.
With the exact nature of the indictment currently unknown due to its filing under seal, an announcement will be made in the coming days detailing the charges being brought against the 2024 Republican presidential hopeful.
In another development, Trump himself is also expected to surrender to authorities in New York City, before appearing before a judge in Manhattan this coming Tuesday.
The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, has been investigating the 45th President of the United States for a prolonged period of time, in relation to Trump’s alleged role in a hush money payment scheme involving the adult film star, Stormy Daniels.
The news of the indictment came as a surprise to Trump, who gave his first Presidential campaign rally in Texas on Saturday. (Credit: Getty Images)Responding to the indictment, Trump and his team released a statement which claimed the charges were “political persecution and election interference at the highest level in history”.
“I believe this witch-hunt will backfire massively on Joe Biden. The American People realise exactly what the Radical Left Democrats are doing here. Everyone can see it… we are going to throw every last one of these crooked Democrats out of office so we can Make America Great Again”, Trump said.
The news of the charges brought against Trump were seen as somewhat of a surprise despite the lengthy investigation. Reports last week had suggested an indictment might be brought then, but following the passing of time, many people, including Trump himself, felt the likelihood of charges had greatly diminished.
The news of the indictment has sent shockwaves throughout the Republican Party. (Credit: Getty Images)Republican Party in turmoil:
The charging of Trump brings with it its own unique set of challenges for the Republican Party, with Trump having announced his 2024 Presidential bid last November.
Having been ousted by incumbent President Joe Biden in the 2020 race, Trump has long been plotting his path back to the epicentre of American political power.
Although the TV personality turned politician remains adamant that he will continue to run, as he seeks the Republican nomination to take part in the 2024 Presidential race despite his facing of criminal charges, it casts a further cloud over an already fractured party.
Trump’s antics have split the Republican Party, with some seemingly still in awe of his charisma and bold rhetoric, whilst others have been put off by his often bombastic and incendiary remarks concerning the alleged 2020 election fraud.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appears to be Trump’s biggest rival ahead of the Republican primaries. (Credit: Getty Images)This schism has given way to the rise of Ron DeSantis, with the Florida Governor shaping up to be Trump’s main threat in securing the Republican Party nomination.
Indicting Trump will only deepen this divide, with Trump’s base likely to lean into the ‘witch-hunt’ narrative already being peddled by the former President.
Meanwhile, backers of DeSantis will likely see this as an opportunity to further the Floridian’s claim to the Republican nomination, an event which will further polarise an increasingly disenfranchised party.
Some allies of Trump have already leapt to his defence, with his former Vice President Mike Pence describing the charges as “an outrage” and remarking that they are little more than “political persecution that’s driven by a prosecutor who literally ran for office on a pledge to indict the former President”.
Mike Pence, Trump’s former Vice President, has defended his former campaign mate. (Credit: Getty Images)Other more moderate Republicans, who see DeSantis as the party’s best option in reclaiming power, have weighed in with support for the American judicial system.
Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska stated “I think we have checks and balances and I trust the system… I think in the end, justice will be done. If he’s guilty it will show up”.
An intriguing weekend awaits for observers of American politics, as the splintered Republican party debates whether Trump remains its’ messiah, or ultimately ends up as pariah.
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