What's happening?

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 go to prison for four years.

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 proofSomething that shows something else is true. of his point.

Donald Trump is running to be president of the USA again. The presidential election will take place this November.

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.

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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.

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.