19th March 2023 – (Washington) In a surprising turn of events, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has claimed that former President Donald Trump could be re-elected in a “landslide victory” if he is indicted by Manhattan prosecutors. Musk’s comments came in response to a report by Fox News that suggested that Trump could be charged as early as next week. Musk tweeted, “If this happens, Trump will be re-elected in a landslide victory.”
Trump himself took to his Truth Social platform to voice his expectation of being arrested on Tuesday, urging his supporters to “protest” and “take our nation back”. Trump said, “Illegal leaks from a corrupt & highly political Manhattan District Attorney’s office. The far & away leading Republican candidate & former President of the United States of America, will be arrested on Tuesday of next week. Protest, take our nation back!”
If indicted, Trump would become the first former US president to be charged with a crime. The 76-year-old is facing the prospect of being “cuffed”, “fingerprinted and processed”, and “escorted into the courtroom,” as per the Fox News report.
However, Trump’s spokesperson has emphasised that there is no official notification about the indictment, other than “illegal leaks from the Justice Department and the DA’s office, to NBC and other fake news carriers”. The spokesperson added that Trump is “rightfully highlighting his innocence and the weaponisation of our injustice system”. Trump is reportedly planning to attend a giant rally in Texas next weekend to further his message of “Make America Great Again”.
It is important to note that Musk’s prediction of a “landslide victory” for Trump in the event of an indictment is highly speculative. Trump’s approval ratings have consistently remained low throughout his presidency, and his impeachment in 2019 and 2021 further dented his image. Moreover, the prospect of a criminal indictment could further damage Trump’s reputation and weaken his political prospects.
Nonetheless, Trump’s supporters have remained fiercely loyal to him, and his base continues to be a significant force in American politics. If indicted, Trump could potentially use the legal battle to rally his base and present himself as a victim of a biased justice system. This could potentially appeal to a section of voters who view Trump as an outsider fighting against a corrupt political establishment.