In a speech at his Mar-a-Lago resort, Donald Trump unleashed scathing attacks on the judge presiding over his upcoming trial and his own family members. According to CNN's Maggie Haberman, who has been following the story closely, Trump's outburst was not just a tantrum, but rather a calculated attempt to sway public opinion in his favor.
Haberman believes that Trump realized he needed to change the narrative about his impending trial, which had become increasingly negative for him. By targeting the judge and his family, he hoped to portray himself as the victim of a deep-seated conspiracy against him.
The attacks on the judge were particularly noteworthy, with Trump calling him "a terrible" and "disgusting". Haberman suggests that this was not just a personal attack, but also a veiled attempt to undermine the credibility of the judicial system itself. By delegitimizing the judge, Trump aimed to create the perception that the entire trial process is rigged against him.
As for his family members, Trump's attacks on them appear to be part of a broader strategy to demonize anyone who has stood in his way over the years. By portraying himself as a victim and painting those around him as enemies, he hopes to rally his base of supporters and create a sense of collective grievance against the "deep state".
Haberman notes that this tactic is reminiscent of Trump's behavior during the 2016 presidential campaign, when he repeatedly attacked Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee. By doing so, Trump was able to tap into a deep-seated desire among many Americans to feel angry and resentful towards their opponents.
However, Haberman also warns that this approach may ultimately backfire for Trump. As she puts it, "When you attack innocent people, you can create a narrative that says 'this guy is crazy', and that's not going to be effective in building support". Ultimately, Haberman believes that Trump's attempts to sway public opinion through personal attacks will only serve to further polarize the country and undermine his own credibility.
Haberman believes that Trump realized he needed to change the narrative about his impending trial, which had become increasingly negative for him. By targeting the judge and his family, he hoped to portray himself as the victim of a deep-seated conspiracy against him.
The attacks on the judge were particularly noteworthy, with Trump calling him "a terrible" and "disgusting". Haberman suggests that this was not just a personal attack, but also a veiled attempt to undermine the credibility of the judicial system itself. By delegitimizing the judge, Trump aimed to create the perception that the entire trial process is rigged against him.
As for his family members, Trump's attacks on them appear to be part of a broader strategy to demonize anyone who has stood in his way over the years. By portraying himself as a victim and painting those around him as enemies, he hopes to rally his base of supporters and create a sense of collective grievance against the "deep state".
Haberman notes that this tactic is reminiscent of Trump's behavior during the 2016 presidential campaign, when he repeatedly attacked Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee. By doing so, Trump was able to tap into a deep-seated desire among many Americans to feel angry and resentful towards their opponents.
However, Haberman also warns that this approach may ultimately backfire for Trump. As she puts it, "When you attack innocent people, you can create a narrative that says 'this guy is crazy', and that's not going to be effective in building support". Ultimately, Haberman believes that Trump's attempts to sway public opinion through personal attacks will only serve to further polarize the country and undermine his own credibility.
imagine being the dude who lost an election and gets to spend his days making up conspiracy theories about the "deep state" meanwhile, actual crimes are happening in the US and he's over here ranting about some judge 
anyone who still thinks trump is a viable candidate needs to reevaluate their life choices 
... like, remember when we were all talking about how ridiculous it was for Trump to attack Clinton? 
. The more he attacks, the more people are going to see him for who he really is: a guy who can't take constructive criticism. It's like, come on Donny, you're not fooling anyone anymore 
. We used to be able to disagree without being nasty... now it feels like we're living in some kind of never-ending reality TV show 
.
. Thinks he can just trash talk his way out of trouble... again. Newsflash, Donny: attacking innocent people like your family members doesn't make you look good, it makes you look petty and desperate 
.
. The fact that he's trying to take a shot at the whole judicial system too? That's just a masterclass in losing credibility 
. At this point, I'm like "ok trump, you've made your bed, now lie in it 
". His approach might rally his base for a hot second, but ultimately it'll just make him look even more unhinged to everyone else 
.
. This speech at Mar-a-Lago was like, totally unprofessional and beneath him 
Instead of attacking a judge and his family, shouldn't he be focusing on how to actually turn things around for himself? 
And honestly, his tantrum-throwing is only gonna make him look more and more unstable 
...
I mean, it's one thing to be confident in your own case, but attacking the judge and family members? That's just a whole other level of drama 
. It feels like he's trying to turn the tables on everyone else rather than owning up to his own actions.
.
. meanwhile, trump's approval ratings have been steadily declining since 2020 - it's now at a record low of 32% 
.
. so if trump's attacks on the judge and his family don't work out, he might be left with nothing but a bunch of worthless lawsuits to file 
.
. maybe trump should focus on building support from those who actually care about his policies rather than trying to demonize everyone who disagrees with him