Although former President Donald Trump has already faced two impeachment trials, his current hush money trial, which brought 34 criminal charges, could lead to up to 20 years in jail. Despite these charges, however, Trump still plans to run for office in the 2024 election. The damage to his reputation during this trial will undoubtedly affect his 2024 political pursuits and already declining legacy.
The effects of Trump’s highly publicized trial include a loss of credibility amongst Democrats and moderate Republicans in anticipation of the 2024 presidential election. While the hush-money payments made to Stormy Daniels were legal, the New York District Attorney’s office is accusing Trump of failing to properly record the payments. Regardless of the outcome of the trial of Trump’s plea, almost every major news outlet in the United States is covering it and the large number of witnesses place him under direct public scrutiny. Additionally, Trump’s denial of the charges paints him as deceitful, continuing to diminish his already fragile reputation. Conservative media’s continued endorsement of him also paints the media in a similarly distrustful light. Both could affect the outcome of the 2024 election, as many Americans believe that they have to be able to trust their president.
According to a 2024 Reuters IPSOS poll, about one-third of polled Republicans believe it too risky for Trump to have access to classified national intelligence. Since most of Trump’s votes come from the Republican party, this data suggests that the trial‘s controversy could cost him the election. Moreover, as of April, 13% of the 37% of polled adults who said they would vote for Trump in the 2024 election said they would change this vote if he were convicted of a felony.
The damage to Trump’s legacy and net worth in this trial will likely also be significant. If convicted, Trump will have to pay $500 million in damages. However, since Trump’s net worth is estimated to be around $8 billion, Trump will still be financially secure and due to Trump’s huge popularity amongst extremists, a large portion of republican voters will continue to vote for him in the upcoming election.
Thus, his loss of credibility and damaged legacy will be his most severe consequences, likely costing him voters in future political landscapes.
