Monday morning, August 28, U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan announced the trial date for Donald Trump on federal charges of subverting the 2020 presidential election. Chutkan, an Obama appointee, set the trial for March 4, 2024 – one day before the massive primary election voting day. The date was established at the judge’s sole discretion. President Trump’s attorneys asked for an April 2026 trial date. President Biden’s DOJ lawyers prosecuting the case asked for the trial to start in January of 2024.

It will not have escaped the Trump Team’s notice that his appearance is scheduled for just one day before the March 5 Super Tuesday. Just hours after he faces the judge, Republican voters in 15 states will go to the polls to determine who they wish to fight for in the 2024 election. While the indictments appear not to have harmed his popularity with the party faithful, starting a trial when he should be campaigning will almost certainly hurt his overall numbers.