Former President Donald Trump spent the weekend before his historic arraignment playing golf, posting on social media, meeting with advisers, and phoning and texting pals to promote the political benefits of his indictment.
According to more than half a dozen persons who interacted with the former president or his inner circle this weekend, he divulged funding and internal poll statistics and pledged to fight the claims.
According to insiders, Trump has stayed calm and focused in the days leading up to his court appearance, despite the indictment catching him and his aides “off-guard.” Some thought he was compartmentalizing, while others said he thought the evidence against him was weak and would assist him politically.
“[Trump’s] certainly angry off and wants to take this on aggressively, but he has been relatively low-key for Trump,” a person familiar with the former president’s recent discussions said.
He is being persuaded by a number of people that this is a weak case and he can defeat it
“As someone who has been present for a fury fit, this [reaction] has not been that,” another Trump insider said, adding that the former president did not want to be prosecuted or paraded through court Tuesday. “He is being persuaded by a number of people that this is a weak case and he can defeat it,” the insider said. Charges will not be known until the indictment is released.
The former president has escalated his assaults on Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on social media, threatening him. Trump also called Tuesday’s judge “hateful” last week.
In between conversations with allies, the former president played golf at his Trump International Golf Course Friday before joining his wife Melania Trump and members for dinner at Mar-a-Lago, where he appeared quieter than usual, a source said. Trump left the dinner scene earlier than usual that night.
A person who has spoken to Trump in recent days said, “[Trump] is thinking about how this may assist him, yeah, but he’s also spent a lot of time thinking about what this means in general, for 2024, and his future.”
Sources say Trump returned to the golf course on Saturday and waved at fans across the street and had staff deliver MAGA caps.
Trump and his closest aides spent the weekend organizing his week, but by Sunday night, the plan was still unfinished.
A person familiar with the preparations stated that Trump and his crew will heed the Secret Service’s security advice.
Trump will speak at Mar-a-Lago Tuesday night after his court appearance. Once the speech was revealed Sunday night, legislators, allies, and Mar-a-Lago members received invitations.
The invitation reads, “We look forward to welcoming you for this unforgettable and historic evening.”
Trump’s political advisors were also planning how to campaign off the indictment, which they called a political fabrication and witch hunt, sources claimed. His team has presented the former president with surveys showing him with a rising advantage over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Trump’s main 2024 competitor. Trump and his aides have actively considered placing his mugshot on t-shirts and souvenirs to rally supporters and collect campaign funds.
Nevertheless, sources acquainted with the preparations were dubious if a mugshot would be taken because Trump’s looks is widely known, there are millions of images of him, and officials were concerned about releasing a mugshot, which would violate state law.
Following days of fundraising off the indictment, including a video appeal from the former president in an email and Truth Social post, campaign directors Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita produced a letter indicating they had raised more over $5 million in 48 hours.
“Poll after poll indicate this political prosecution by the Manhattan DA has sparked overwhelming support for President Trump,” campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said. Since this witch-hunt fake was announced, People from all backgrounds have donated over $5 million and signed up over 16,000 volunteers.
“The people realize this is all political—Trump understands that,” one ally added, nodding. “This will increase his support.”
Some disagreed. “Trump fatigue” may assist Trump in the primary, one former aide suggested.
“If these indictments pile up, it will hurt him in the primary and general. It’ll bore people.”