Trump Redux

Trump is about to announce that he’s going to run for president in 2024. A lot of people in his own party have advised him it’s not a good time to do so — right after most of his election-denying allies have been defeated at the polls. I think the main reason he’s announcing his candidacy so soon is so that when he’s indicted, if he’s running for president, he’ll be better positioned to claim that it’s to keep him from becoming president again: “It’s political payback,” he’ll cry. “It’s what they do in banana republics.” “It’s because Democrats think it’s the only way they can stop me.” “It won’t work.” “Voters won’t stand for such corruption.” He’ll smirk. He’ll hold out an arm and point. He’ll lie with every breath. But a lot more people now understand that he’s a charlatan.