The arraignment of Donald Trump at a Miami courthouse yesterday was of a piece with many other dramatic moments in the former president’s political career. The day mixed the deadly serious — a president pleading not guilty to thirty federal charges — and the absurd — a rendition of happy birthday in the famous Cuban hangout Versailles and a speech outside a country club. In other words, it was all impeccably Trump.
With their predecessor making the political weather, his Republican presidential rivals demonstrate no real confidence in how to handle him. (The honorable exception here is Vivek Ramaswamy, who has jumped with such enthusiasm at the chance to defend Trump that it is difficult to know why he is still running for president.)
Meanwhile, the man Trump hopes to take on once he’s through the primary has settled on a simple strategy in response to this very messy situation. Politico reports that Joe Biden and his top team “have taken a vow of silence on the federal indictment of his predecessor, Donald Trump — and have explicitly ordered the national Democratic Party and his reelection to do the same.” (Hillary Clinton doesn’t seem to have got the memo; she is flogging “but her emails” merch online.)
Biden’s decision to keep schtum is being presented as a solemn commitment to the rule of law. Politico notes that some Democrats are “worried that Biden could miss a chance to underscore the seriousness of the national moment as well as deliver a political blow to his top White House rival.” Look at all the political capital the president is leaving on the table!
This all seems to have things back to front. It’s political malpractice to do anything other than say nothing as your opponents are busy imploding. When events are working to undermine the other guy, you just need to let them run their course.
That’d be true of any president in this situation. It’s especially true of Biden, who is subject to a special counsel investigation of his own at the moment, and whose close family members are also under criminal investigation. From the White House’s point of view, the quieter he is allowed to be on all things Justice Department, the better.
As the Politico story notes: “Those close to the president also acknowledge a particular sensitivity at the moment on matters related to the Department of Justice, which is believed to be nearing a charging decision in its investigation into Biden’s son.”
Moreover, if his plan is to fight for reelection along the lines of chaos versus stability, then Biden has every incentive to avoid getting drawn in for a tit-for-tat over criminal charges faced by his opponent.
But in an election cycle that could be dominated by an array of legal issues, from Trump’s criminal cases to the storm clouds amassing above the first family, for how much longer will Biden be able to plead the fifth? Part of the answer to that question depends on the press: so far, a pliant Washington media has gone easy on Biden.
But, whatever the media does, the “keep quiet” strategy is only going to get harder to stick to. If legal questions dominate the conversation, especially if the various investigations into the Bidens go anywhere, the president will feel growing pressure to join in.
On our radar
GOP C-LISTERS, ENOUGH ALREADY! Does the world need another Republican presidential contender? I humbly submit that the answer is: no. Miami mayor Francis X. Suarez clearly disagrees and is set to be the third candidate from Florida to enter the race. A PAC released a two-minute video boosting Suarez today, and he is expected to announce tomorrow. Politico understates his challenge when it reports that “it could be an uphill climb to gain traction” for Suarez. Fact check: true.
LARRY DAVID SUPPORTING, NOT ‘SUPPORTING’ RFK, JR. In a New York Times profile of Cheryl Hines, Larry David is asked what he thinks about RFK Jr. For the uninitiated, Hines, who is Kennedy’s wife, plays Larry David’s wife on Curb Your Enthusiasm. “I feel a lot of support and love from most of her friends, including Larry,” says RFK Jr. in the piece. The reporter adds that David clarified via text message: “Yes love and support, but I’m not ‘supporting’ him.”
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Americans agree to disagree
Americans are more polarized than ever despite sharing common values, according to a new survey published Wednesday.
The study conducted by the NORC at the University of Chicago and the nonprofit group Starts With Us reveals the perception Democrats and Republicans have of one another does not match reality. While the data shows both parties share core values, each denies the other side holds them.
The study asked Democrats and Republicans whether they valued six basic principles: accountable government, rule of law, representative government, learning from the past, personal accountability, and respect and compassion. Around 90 percent of respondents said they did for each category. Yet, under 40 percent believed the same was true of the opposite party.
For example, 91 percent of Democrats and 88 percent of Republicans said they value personal responsibility, but only about a third believed that the other side valued it as well. Democrats were especially distrustful that Republicans valued respect and compassion, while Republicans were most likely to doubt the Democrats’ belief in accountable government.
Tom Fishman, chief executive at Start With Us, is hopeful that the study can help bridge political polarization. “This is a hidden opportunity for Americans to reestablish a sense of shared values,” Fishman said.
–Michael Bachmann
The Fed presses pause
After ten consecutive rate rises, the Federal Reserve hit pause today. The decision to leave the benchmark rate at 5.1 percent, the highest level in sixteen years, did not come as a surprise. Less expected was the Fed’s warning that it intended to raise rates again later this year. “Nearly all committee participants view it as likely that some further rate increases will be appropriate this year to bring inflation to 2 percent over time,” said Jay Powell in a press conference this afternoon.
–OW
From the site
Aaron Gwyn: Cormac McCarthy is gone — but his works remain brilliantly alive
Matthew Foldi: Did Jennifer Granholm lie to Congress?
Amber Athey: The GOP is sprinting away from criminal justice reform
Poll watch
PRESIDENT BIDEN JOB APPROVAL
Approve 41.9% | Disapprove 54.7% | Net Approval -12.8
(RCP average)
GOP PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY
Trump 51% | DeSantis 21% | Pence 4% | Haley 4% | Scott 3%
(Economist/YouGov)
Best of the rest
Ross Douthat, New York Times: Every Trump indictment tells a story
Jonathan Turley, the Messenger: Biden special counsel Robert Hur appears to have vanished
Greg Ip, Wall Street Journal: Stock market to Fed — you haven’t done enough
Aaron Sibarium, Washington Free Beacon: How tobacco companies are crushing ESG ratings
Nick Catoggio, the Dispatch: A little bit pregnant
Reese Gorman, Washington Examiner: Crenshaw unveils legislation to study psychedelic treatment for active-duty service members
