CNN host Fareed Zakaria expresses skepticism about the legitimacy of the felony charges brought against former President Trump in New York, suggesting they may be politically motivated and designed to keep Trump in the spotlight.
CNN host Fareed Zakaria has raised questions about the political motivations behind the felony charges brought against former President Trump in New York over falsifying business records. Zakaria expressed his doubts during his show Sunday, stating, "I doubt the New York indictment would have been brought against a defendant whose name was not Donald Trump."
The charges stem from a years-long investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and are related to alleged payments made ahead of the 2016 presidential election to silence Daniels about an alleged 2006 extramarital affair with Trump. Zakaria argued that the trial against Trump serves to "infuriate his base" and "keep him in the spotlight."
Zakaria also pointed to the potential impact on public perception, suggesting that the trial may be making Trump appear more sympathetic. "To his base, he's a martyr," Zakaria said. "To the general public, it even may serve to make him the object of some sympathy among people in general who believe that his prosecutors are politically motivated."
"This happens to be true, in my opinion," Zakaria emphasized.
Beyond the Trump charges, Zakaria highlighted growing division within the Democratic Party and the comparative unity among Republicans. "There's no denying that the [Democratic] party seems more openly divided than it has been in decades," he said. "Only 33% of Americans said they approved of Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war, which is now opposed both by people who think he's too soft and people who think he's too hard on Israel."
In contrast, Zakaria noted the unity among Republicans. A recent Trump campaign rally in New Jersey drew a large crowd, estimated at between 80,000 to 100,000 people.
Zakaria's comments echo similar concerns raised by other commentators who question whether the charges against Trump are politically motivated rather than based solely on the evidence. The trial, which began its second week, is expected to continue for several months.
In addition to the Trump charges, Zakaria criticized President Biden and the Democratic Party on the border crisis, suggesting that Biden should adopt some of Trump's policies. "So the whole system is broken," Zakaria said of the modern asylum process. "And Biden needs to confront that and say, you know, ‘We are going to have to reform the whole system.’"
"I would wish he’d do something much more extreme, like say, ‘The old asylum system is dead. No one is coming in through that process. You have to apply from your home country,’" he added.
Zakaria's views on the Trump charges and the Biden administration's border policy reflect a broader debate over the role of politics in the justice system and the challenges facing American democracy.
