Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) remarked that, in a similar vein to the events of January 6th, Donald Trump appears to be rallying his supporters to take contentious actions on his behalf.
Speaking to CNN’s Jim Acosta, Rep. Castro observed, “It’s consistent with Trump’s behavior. He has a history of attempting to intimidate and bully individuals, and there seems to be an implicit threat in his recent statements. I commend the prosecutors for seeking protective orders.
Time and again, Trump has sought to mobilize his base to act in his interests, as was evident during the January 6th insurrection. He incited a group to storm the Capitol while distancing himself from the chaos.”
Video of Castro:
Castro’s point is clear: Trump appears to be leveraging his base to shield himself from legal consequences, treating them as if they were his private militia, ready to act against the broader American populace when faced with legal scrutiny.
However, the American public has grown wary over time. They’re no longer easily intimidated by Trump’s provocations. Even among his staunch supporters, there’s a noticeable hesitation to resort to violence or land behind bars for his cause. The absence of widespread protests following Trump’s third arraignment highlights this. The streets remain calm.
Though Trump continues to issue threats, his position as a private citizen alters the dynamic. While he might secure some Republican votes in the upcoming presidential primary, it’s doubtful many are willing to resort to violent means to support him.
Increasingly, it appears that everyone recognizes the diminishing influence of Trump, except perhaps Trump himself.