Welcome to the online version of From the policy deskevening bulletin that brings you the latest reporting and analysis from the campaign trail, the White House and Capitol Hill from the NBC News Politics team.
In today’s edition, senior political editor Mark Murray compares the Democratic Party’s response to Donald Trump’s guilty verdict to a 2016 Access Hollywood tape. Plus, top political reporters Jonathan Allen and Matt Dixon weigh in on the political implications of the hush-hush trial.
Check in now with Hollywood: How the GOP learned to get behind Trump: From the Policy Desk
By Mark Murray
Nearly eight years ago, key figures in the Republican Party distanced themselves from Donald Trump after an Access Hollywood video revealed he had made lewd and aggressive comments about women.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., He excluded Trump from the invitation from the campaign event. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, he asked her To resign as the GOP nominee. And then – Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, withdrew his approval.
“I am not. I can no longer in good conscience endorse this person for president. These are some of the most disgusting and offensive comments you can imagine,” Chaffetz said in October 2016.
Trump was then elected president just one month later.
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Since then—after two impeachments, a 2020 presidential defeat, and multiple impeachments—today’s Republican Party has learned to stand behind Trump 100% when faced with bad news about its former president and current presumptive presidential nominee.
Indeed, in the wake of Trump, there has been a backlash from Republican elected officials and candidates for office found guilty on all 34 charges A silent money court in New York overwhelmingly upheld.
“This sentence is a travesty of justice” North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum saidA potential candidate for Trump.
“This case should never have been opened and this injustice is despicable.” Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dave McCormick said.
“WE THE PEOPLE are with PRESIDENT TRUMP!” Montana GOP Senate candidate Tim Sheehy reacted in a statement.
Meanwhile, Republican Senate candidate and former Maryland governor Larry Hogan Type in XThe chant, which did not mention Trump by name and called for “all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process,” drew swift rebukes from the MAGA crowd.
Watching the reaction of elected Republicans and congressional representatives will be the most telling indicator of whether the party stands behind him as its standard-bearer even after he is found guilty.
Because if there is no GOP distance or disagreement, he is on track to remain the nominee.
Guilty but not ashamed, Trump says he will see Biden in November
By Jonathan Allen and Matt Dixon
Donald Trump is guilty but not ashamed. The question now is whether he will suffer politically for his crimes.
The first former US president to stand trial was found guilty on Thursday on all 34 issues He conspired to help his 2016 campaign by falsifying documents to cover up the alleged sex – Trump quickly rallied to raise money and votes from the conviction.
He sent a fundraising message to donors moments after the jury finished his work and vowed in the courthouse that “the real verdict will be by the people on November 5” in a rematch with President Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
Biden agreed.
“There’s only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box,” he said. In a statement sent to X along with a link to donate to his campaign. He took no victory laps, uttered no insults, and made no predictions of Trump’s political demise.
Trump also calls himself “political prisoner” in another fundraising appeal shortly after the sentencing, though not in prison.
There is simply no precedent for a convicted candidate carrying the banner of a major party in a general election. Many political pundits say it’s too early to say whether the result will add fuel to Trump’s 2024 campaign or be toxic to gullible voters.
Democrats who spoke to NBC News on Thursday were divided on whether Biden would be affected by the ruling, with some seeing the real side of Trump’s problems and others more skeptical.
“It’s the result we want and it’s another talking point against Trump, but it doesn’t mean much in terms of actual votes,” said a Biden campaign official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to comment without fear of retaliation.
On the other side of the political divide, Republicans followed Trump’s lead, saying they were confident the jury’s decision would create a strong backlash in his favor.
Trump campaign and Republican National Committee political director James Blair held a conference call with GOP state party chairs shortly after the results were announced, according to two people involved in the polling.
“They have a clear message they want us to deliver,” the participant said of Trump’s political apparatus. “This is an unfair witch hunt. We will file an appeal, and we will win the appeal. “Guys, we just elected the next president of the United States.”
More Trump sentencing coverage from NBC News
What else happened today…
- 📝 Independent variable: Five people familiar with the matter told NBC News that the accused senator, DN.J. Bob Menendez has collected the necessary signatures to appear on the ballot as an independent candidate. More →
- 🇺🇦 Change course: Biden secretly authorized Ukraine to use US weapons to launch strikes inside Russia that Kiev’s allies would help turn the tide of the war. More →
- 🚫 RSVP’s no : Chief Justice John Roberts refused to meet with Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin of Illinois and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island to discuss Supreme Court ethics because controversial flags flew at the homes of Justice Samuel Alito. More →
- ⚖️ Highers: Meanwhile, the Supreme Court He was on the side of the NRA In New York state government forced labor. More →
- 👬 Convert it? Polls show Biden is losing support among black and Latino voters, but his campaign says he has a game plan to keep them on board. More →
- 🏀 Whistling: Former NBA player-turned-right-wing Minnesota Senate GOP candidate Royce White is facing lawsuits over unpaid child support. More →
- 💰 Angry people: Florida Governor Ron DeSantis plans to raise at least $10 million for Trump starting this summer. More →
- 💸 Cash: Miriam Adelson, longtime GOP megadonor and widow of Sheldon Adelson, plans to help fund a pro-Trump super PAC, Politico reports. More →
- ❗The hits keep coming: The House Ethics Committee is launching an investigation into indicted Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas. More →
For now, here they are from The Politics Desk. If you have feedback – like it or not – send us an email politicsnewsletter@nbcuni.com
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