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The first Republican Presidential debate on August 23rd was most likely one of the Party’s few televised discussions where the leading candidate was not present on stage. In this case, it was President Trump, who was engaged with case proceedings taking place in Atlanta, Georgia. According to Nielsen estimates, the corresponding Republican primary in 2015 (the debate debut of President Trump) had attracted considerably more viewers than the event on August 23rd. President Trump’s presence, and political clout, was acknowledged during the debate when the majority of candidates answered in the affirmative regarding support for the former in case he was found guilty in the Georgia case.

With cases at the federal and state levels already providing publicity to President Trump’s 2024 presidential run, the Georgia case happens to add to his troubles and consolidate his place in the limelight. Two criminal trials are in the mix and are scheduled to begin in 2024 with speculations about a prospective presidential pardon, if President Trump does enter the White House for a second term, doing the rounds. However, experts have noted that due to the state laws of Georgia, a legitimate pardon would be difficult, and possibly time-consuming, to obtain. WinRed (a fundraising platform endorsed by the Party) and CNN have reported that indictments in 2023 have been followed by spikes in funding to Trump’s campaign. This occurred after President Trump’s March 30th indictment and following charges brought against him at the federal level in June. In addition, three days after being booked and arrested in the racketeering and fraud case in Georgia, President Trump’s spokesman Steven Cheung claimed that more than $7 million had been raised for the campaign. Undoubtedly, President Trump’s legal troubles have taken center stage before the 2024 elections and as is apparent promise to bring to the fore unexpected twists and turns.

Minutes before the first Republican debate (which President Trump did not attend) was aired by Fox, far-right and conservative television personality Tucker Carlson posted, on social media, an interview with President Trump. In the space of four days, the post accumulated more than 260 million views, surpassing the viewership of the debate. President Trump’s stronghold within Republican politics may be appreciated by the fact that he has maintained his lead following the first Republican debate and, as things stand, looks set to be the winning GOP candidate. Over the next year, President Trump’s cases in Miami, Washington and Manhattan will surely receive widespread publicity, while the case in Georgia, according to state laws, may well be televised. If the Georgia case does indeed reach television viewers, the possibilities are endless for President Trump’s campaign.

Mohammad Nihad Nowsher is a Research Intern at CGS