Donald Trump’s criminal case looms over US 2024 presidential election, as will China

Former president playing up ‘outsider’ narrative as campaign claims a boost following indictment over hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels

As Trump’s rivals for Oval Office tiptoe around attacking him, China poised to emerge as easy target for politicians, observers say

Reading Time:5 minutes

Former US President Donald Trump arrives at his resort Mar-a-Lago in Florida on Tuesday, surrounded by supporters. Earlier in the day, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts in New York. Photo: Getty Images via TNS

Published: 4:45am, 6 Apr 2023Updated: 5:13am, 6 Apr 2023

The criminal case against Donald Trump, who pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Tuesday in Manhattan District Court to 34 felony counts related to a 2016 pay-off of porn star Stormy Daniels, is likely to become a prominent feature of the 2024 presidential election – as, to a lesser extent, will China.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who oversaw the first criminal charges ever brought against a former American president, called for a January 2024 trial start.

But Trump’s lawyers, who are expected to file a host of motions challenging and otherwise slowing down the case, said they needed until spring 2024 to prepare. New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan has not ruled on the timing issue.

In a meandering and acrimonious speech on Tuesday evening from his Palm Beach, Florida home at the Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump, a Republican, portrayed himself as the victim, accused Democrats of spying on him, and slammed Bragg and Merchan.

“The only crime I’ve ever committed is to fearlessly defend our nation,” Trump, 76, told supporters. “I have a Trump-hating judge with a Trump-hating wife.”

The timing of the New York criminal case could see it go to trial in the middle of the US presidential race. An early 2024 trial start would coincide with the Republican primaries. Later on could bump it up against the Republican National Convention.