As the 2024 presidential race takes shape, former President Donald J. Trump, the leading Republican contender, faces indictment in four major cases, two of them federal, with a total of 91 charges.
However, President Joe Biden refrains from openly discussing these cases due to the complexities involved. While Biden could choose to address Trump’s legal challenges, doing so could invite counteraccusations that he may struggle to defend himself against.
Despite Trump’s legal woes, Biden, bearing a “D” next to his name, has largely avoided comparable legal scrutiny. The challenge for Biden lies in avoiding amplifying the narrative that Trump and his supporters have crafted, portraying the former president as a target of a politically biased legal system acting in favor of Biden’s candidacy.
Although Trump’s rhetoric has fueled controversy, engaging in a tit-for-tat with Trump could ultimately bolster his standing. The risk for Biden is that the campaign could shift its focus to which president faces more legal liabilities, potentially bringing greater attention to Biden’s own legal troubles.
While Trump highlights the alleged wrongdoings of Hunter Biden and the broader Biden family, Biden tactfully avoids deepening the discussion. Despite some Democratic consultants and voters’ concerns about Biden’s handling of these issues, the president’s strategy appears twofold.
First, it may be a political calculation aimed at mitigating the potential fallout from his own alleged criminality. Second, Biden’s team may fear the unintended consequences of increased public scrutiny of his legal matters. For now, Biden maintains a cautious approach, allowing the legal process to run its course.
Meanwhile, Trump’s legal challenges have significantly drained his campaign funds, and the Department of Justice’s actions are seen by some as serving Biden’s interests. Ultimately, Biden’s avoidance of Trump’s legal issues may reflect a strategy to prevent his own legal matters from dominating the election narrative.
In the end, both Biden and Trump are perceived by some as ill-suited candidates for their respective parties, with concerns about their age, corruption, and perceived damage to the nation’s interests. Some suggest that alternative candidates, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom for Democrats and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for Republicans, could offer a more promising future for their parties and the country.
