# What Trump’s Courtroom Antics Are Really Telling Us ![rw-book-cover](https://protectdemocracy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/trump-camera-trial.jpg) ## Metadata - Author:: [[Joe Allen]] - Full Title:: What Trump’s Courtroom Antics Are Really Telling Us - Category: #articles - URL: https://protectdemocracy.org/work/what-trumps-courtroom-antics-are-really-telling-us/ ## Highlights > Trump’s wild antics may make for colorful courtroom stories, however, the reality is that the legal cases are proceeding normally — except for the often dangerous and threatening behavior of the defendant. Motions are filed, evidence is presented, witnesses testify, and the justice system is working towards its conclusions ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hex094yccd3hyg45c8jzgjjk)) > This week, *The Washington Post* published a piece under the headline, “Trump and allies plot revenge, Justice Department control in second term,” which reported on the [Trump campaign plan](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/05/trump-revenge-second-term/) “to harness the power of the presidency to exact revenge on those who have challenged or criticized [Trump] if he returns to the White House.” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hex09d82vz2gy9y99mvkrn4w)) > According to the *Post*, targets for harassment and unwarranted government investigation include Trump’s handpicked former staff, such as former Chief of Staff John Kelly, former Attorney General William Barr, former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley, as well as President Joe Biden. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hex09tstk4we8r7v2akj74x5)) > It wasn’t a one-off statement. *The Washington Post* reporting added details to a larger body of work establishing his plans, including from the [*Associated Press*](https://apnews.com/article/election-2024-conservatives-trump-heritage-857eb794e505f1c6710eb03fd5b58981), [*Axios*](https://www.axios.com/2022/07/22/trump-2025-radical-plan-second-term), [*The New York Times*](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/us/politics/trump-plans-2025.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare), and [*Politico*](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/17/us/politics/trump-plans-2025.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare). Trump’s philosophy is simple. As he [said](https://twitter.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1700522844235403441?s=20) while campaigning in South Dakota, “If I win and somebody wants to run against me. I call my attorney general, and I say, ‘Listen, indict him.’” ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hex0akbrrra19tx35rp7zpbn)) > Trump’s desire to direct DOJ enforcement actions against critics and perceived political opponents goes hand-in-hand with his resistance to any accountability under the law — whether in his New York civil trial or for other serious prosecutions he faces in Washington, Georgia, and Florida. Tellingly, his aspiration to substitute politicized law enforcement for the evenhanded application of the rule of law is a central feature of the modern authoritarian playbook. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hex0d8v3v4z32f264dwzgbdn)) > Undermining the rule of law with politicized law enforcement allows a strongman to do three things: > • First, free himself and his allies of any accountability. This can be done by [quashing investigations](https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/07/us/politics/sessions-resigns.html), [pardon](https://www.cnn.com/2018/06/04/politics/donald-trump-pardon-tweet/index.html) [abuse](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-says-pardon-large-portion-jan-6-rioters-rcna83873), and [elevating bad actors](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/08/federal-judge-trump-ally-jeffrey-clark-00101183) to influential positions in the government. > • Second, it allows a president to [target his political adversaries](https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/05/trump-revenge-second-term/), using the law as a political tool to criminalize political opposition. > • Third, once the president and his allies are unconstrained by any fear of prosecution by DOJ, that unlocks a toolbox unscrupulous officials can exploit to further abuse their power for political ends. Previous threats to investigate media companies for “[treason](https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-threatens-to-open-treason-investigation-into-msnbc-if-re-elected),” [hold up mergers](https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/04/media/att-time-warner-trump-gary-cohn/index.html), and [withhold disaster aid](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/17/trump-california-wildfire-money-397340) for states that did not support him are just a few examples. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hex0e276f15geerytaa39a35)) > It’s important to remember that, despite Trump’s protestations, he is no different than any other defendant. Cases against him are proceeding, with trial dates set. That is indicative of the strength of a system that is working to hold all Americans accountable, even a former president. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hex0efqbrbq0tkqbqx7q55kf)) > Trump isn’t just disrespecting judges and prosecutors in the courtroom. He’s showing he doesn’t think the rules should apply to him. ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hex0ew7wmc7qnbd1efvq5hgd))