Former President Donald Trump's latest legal struggles could pose problems for the entire field of 2024 GOP hopefuls trying to win the party's nomination to take back the White House.
All of the key players in the 2024 Republican primary race are descending on Iowa Friday for one of the biggest annual political events in the state — but their presidential pitches might be drowned out by brand new charges levied against Trump in the federal government's investigation into classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago residence.
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On Friday, presidential candidates including Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), former Vice President Mike Pence, former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), Vivek Ramaswamy, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, Larry Elder, Perry Johnson, Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, Ryan Binkley, and former Texas Republican Rep. Will Hurd will each attend the 2023 Lincoln Day Dinner and deliver remarks at the event. The dinner is hosted by the Iowa Republican Party in Des Moines.
However, Trump was hit on Thursday with three additional charges by special counsel Jack Smith in an investigation into his retention of classified documents following his presidency. A new superseding indictment filed Thursday evening alleged Trump tried to have surveillance footage deleted at the Florida property. A third defendant was also named by Smith, Carlos De Oliveria, an employee at Mar-a-Lago. Trump is accused of acting as a co-conspirator in the attempt to delete footage deleting and was further slapped with another Espionage Act charge.
Trump's previous indictments and target letters have failed to dampen his support among Republicans, who maintain a distrust in the government, primarily the Justice Department. In fact, an overwhelming 81% of Republicans said the initial 37 federal charges imposed by Smith were politically motivated, according to a June Reuters/Ipsos poll. This sentiment is not confined to the former president's base support, either. Reuters reported that roughly 30% to 35% of Republicans are estimated to make up Trump's base.
Trump's support in the primary battle ticked up in weekly polling following the revelation of Smith's target letter last week, informing Trump he is being looked at in an investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Trump gained three percentage points, bumping him to 59% from the previous week's 56%, in Morning Consult's latest polling.
It remains to be seen just how much attention GOP voters will pay to the electoral auditions of 2024 candidates on Friday evening, as they may be preoccupied by disdain for the DOJ and Smith's indictments.
The new legal trouble for Trump could prove to cloud what was considered a pivotal opportunity for 2024 Republicans to pitch themselves to voters in Iowa.
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Candidates may also be forced to comment on Trump's latest charges, either defending the former president or denouncing him.
This could prove challenging, as candidates have yet to find a successful lane to criticize Trump without putting off voters, but further risk being unpalatable to independents if they come to Trump's defense. Some candidates have tried to find a balance by criticizing what they've claimed is a politicized justice system, but don't go as far as saying Trump is innocent.