On Tuesday, President Joe Biden’s campaign surprised everyone by showing up outside former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York City. They were accompanied by actor Robert De Niro and two retired police officers who reminded people about Trump’s role in the Capitol riots on 6th January. This was a new approach from Biden’s team that had previously shied away from engagement with this case. Therefore, because of the soon conduction of the trial, his campaign sought to use the existing media buzz to illustrate how high these upcoming polls are for America. But it wasn’t about discussing the trial itself; De Niro and the cops talked about bigger issues.
According to Michael Tyler, Biden’s campaign communication director, “We’re here today because you all are here.” The intention was to employ the press as a means of concentrating on this lawsuit and speaking out against Trump’s influence on our nation. Consequently, among other cases that Mr. Trump faces is this particular trial. It includes complaints lodged against him during his elections’ attempt to alter results for 2020 and even claims for maintaining top secret papers after he vacated office. All allegations against him have been denied by Trump himself. A week ago, there was an advertisement featuring De Niro castigating Trump released by Biden’s campaign team. He explained why he joined them saying he wanted to protect American liberties; “If Trump returns to White House you can say goodbye”.
A New Yorker by birth, De Niro slammed Trump’s previous business failures and accused him of wanting to destroy the city and the country. “I love this city. I don’t want to trash it. Donald Trump wants not only the city but also the country destroyed, and eventually he might just destroy the world,” De Niro said.
The testimonials of former police officers Michael Fanone and Harry Dunn, who were present during the Capitol riot was shared. Fanone spoke about having got injured in that crowd of Trump supporters that tried to stop Biden from being named President. “I came here today because I wanted Americans to remember what Donald Trump is capable of doing,” Fanone said. Both men had earlier testified when Congress investigated the August 6th protest march on Washington DC. Dunn emphasized that Americans should take action. “We cannot depend on institutions to prevent Donald Trump,” he said stating, “we have to defeat him at the polls.”
Trump’s campaign responded by organizing a press conference of their own just outside the court. A senior Trump campaign advisor Jason Miller referred to De Niro as “a washed-up actor” and claimed that Biden’s campaign had turned the trial into a political event. Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s press secretary, called the Biden campaign “desperate and failing,” saying that this showed clearly how politically motivated the trial was.
Despite their criticism, Trump has capitalized on the trials to strengthen his candidature by attacking Biden in the media and rallying his supporters.