Donald Trump’s criminal trial has become a spectacle, with the former president surrounded by a cast of prominent Republican lawmakers eager to demonstrate their support.
This entourage has not only shown solidarity but also acted as Trump’s mouthpiece, repeating his attacks on witnesses, jurors, and court staff despite the gag order in place. Trump has found a creative way to circumvent the court’s restrictions by using his supporters to voice his opinions.
Trump’s allies, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, have taken to the media to echo Trump’s attacks on Judge Juan Merchan’s daughter, who has been targeted for her work with a Democratic consulting firm.
Trump’s Surrogates Unleash Attacks on Judge’s Daughter, Raising Eyebrows
Other Republicans, such as Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills, have joined in, calling the trial a “joke and a farce” and accusing Merchan’s daughter of profiting from the case. Sen. J.D. Vance has also repeated Trump’s pre-gag order attacks on the judge’s daughter.
This chorus of support has provided Trump with a platform to continue his attacks despite the court’s efforts to silence him. The trial has become a political theater, with Republicans seeking to curry favor with Trump by echoing his rhetoric.
Even House Speaker Johnson has used the opportunity to raise funds, sending out an email with a photo of himself and Trump, claiming that Democrats are “weaponizing the justice system” to defeat Trump. The spectacle has drawn criticism, with many seeing it as a blatant attempt to undermine the legal process.
