Is this how dictators win? Donald Trump will spend the next two months facing criminal charges in a New York court. It might sound strange, but some think it could actually help him win the election.
Trump slams trial as an 'assault on America'
Is this how dictators win? Donald Trump will spend the next two months facing criminal charges in a New York court. It might sound strange, but some think it could actually help him win the election.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening? </h2>
This week, Donald TrumpAn American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025. appeared in court in New YorkA city in the USA. It is in a state also called New York. , charged with falsifyingAlter a document to make it misleading. business records. If he is found guilty he could face four years in prison, although the judgeThe person in a court of law who decides how the law should be applied. could also spare him jail time and fine him instead.
But some say he might even be hoping to go to prison. He has spent the last nine years talking angrily about a "deep stateAccording to an American conspiracy, the deep state is a group of influential government agencies or members who secretly manipulate government policy. " that he claims is trying to keep him out of power. His voters might see a prison sentence as proof of his point.
Donald Trump is running to be president of the USA again. The presidential election will take place this November.
He argues that the "deep state" tried and failed to stop him from winning the 2016 election. Then, when it failed, it riggedThe act of arranging dishonestly for the result of something, for example an election, to be changed. the 2020 election against him. Now it is trying to do the same in 2024 using the legal state.
If Trump has to run for president from prison, he will be able to say he has been punished by the "deep state" for standing up for the little guy.
It is a tactic that has been used by dictatorsRulers with total power over a country. throughout history. The dictator presents himself and his supporters as the victims. He claims that the current system is broken and that he alone can rip it down and replace it with something that helps the people.
Is this how dictators win?
Yes! History is full of examples of dictators rising to power by presenting themselves as outsiders who are being bullied by a broken system. Trump can play this game very well.
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No! Most dictators come to power more directly, for example by violence or force. And if Trump wins the election, it will be because undecided voters supported him, not his biggest fans.
Donald Trump - An American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025.
New York - A city in the USA. It is in a state also called New York.
Falsifying - Alter a document to make it misleading.
Judge - The person in a court of law who decides how the law should be applied.
Deep state - According to an American conspiracy, the deep state is a group of influential government agencies or members who secretly manipulate government policy.
Rigged - The act of arranging dishonestly for the result of something, for example an election, to be changed.
Dictators - Rulers with total power over a country.
Trump slams trial as an ‘assault on America’

Glossary
Donald Trump - An American television personality who became US president from 2016 to 2020, and will become president again in January 2025.
New York - A city in the USA. It is in a state also called New York.
Falsifying - Alter a document to make it misleading.
Judge - The person in a court of law who decides how the law should be applied.
Deep state - According to an American conspiracy, the deep state is a group of influential government agencies or members who secretly manipulate government policy.
Rigged - The act of arranging dishonestly for the result of something, for example an election, to be changed.
Dictators - Rulers with total power over a country.