Of all the advantages Donald Trump has in the 2024 presidential election, the biggest may be his ability to grab headlines while having exhausted his capacity to shock. He remains in the public eye, but it’s difficult to imagine there is anything he could do to turn away his voters. Even as his comments get more extreme – encouraging Russia to attack European countries being only the latest example – the response pattern remains the same: headlines, outrage from liberals, cheers from conservatives, nose-holding and glancing away by many moderates and independents. All this while the swathe of voters who pay scant attention to politics conclude that “this is just how he is”.
Which perhaps explains why the former president heads one of the most prolific harassment and intimidation machines in the country with almost zero political cost.
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