A ‘New Phase’ Never Seen Before: Victor Davis Hanson on What Trump Indictment Means for America

According to prominent conservative historian Victor Davis Hanson, with the indictment of former US President Donald Trump by the New York grand jury last week, the country has entered a new phase. It is an unsettling era characterized by chronic dysfunction as the prosecution of political differences through warring prosecutors becomes more prevalent.

During an interview with EpochTV’s “American Thought Leaders” program on April 3, Hanson, a fellow at the Hoover Institution shared his views on the left’s strategy to undermine the republic, the simmering anger of half of the country, and the best way President Trump could react to the criminal probes targeting him.

Prior to arraignment on April 4, the specifics of the charges against Trump are not yet disclosed. Still, as widely expected, they will include felony charges of falsifying business records relating to the payment of hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels weeks before the presidential elections of 2016, requiring Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to prove that Trump forged records to cover up a violation of federal campaign finance laws.

Trump faces three other criminal probes, with special counsel Jack Smith investigating Trump’s alleged role in interfering with the 2020 election results, the lawful transfer of power on Jan. 6, 2021, and his handling of classified documents. A Fulton County grand jury is also investigating whether Trump unlawfully interfered with the 2020 election in Georgia.

According to Hanson, the indictment has changed politics from popular vote-based ballots and elections to legal lawfare in politics by other means. Hanson is of the opinion that almost every ex-president, official or perhaps even the current President of the United States could be the target of a publicity-seeking state or local attorney who is in the political opposition.

Hanson warned that if the Republicans reciprocated what the Democrats were doing, it would lead to the creation of committees similar to the Jan. 6 panel with cherry-picked members under House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). Simultaneously, state prosecutors in red states like Florida, Utah, and Wyoming would go after President Joe Biden’s family for various counts, resulting in dysfunction in the entire country.

At a time when many Americans are discontented with the state of the country and are channeling their anger into a “silent revolution,” the Trump indictment is expected to make people angrier, according to Hanson. The Trump indictment and other issues have already led to half of the country’s population being disconnected. They have turned their focus away from institutions that promote progressive ideologies such as the Oscars, Grammys, Tonys, and basketball in favor of Christian schools or homeschooling. For example, according to US Census data, California lost 700,000 people between April 2020 and July 2022.

Despite the pushback against the left, it has been silent and not violent, and Hanson expects a long-lasting impact.

In conclusion, Hanson believes that the Trump indictment may be the first of many to come and that it is not symmetrical as the 20 potential felonies by various Democratic leaders listed in his essay have not been acknowledged. As a result, people will be more infuriated in the future, warns Hanson, as the left keeps pushing the envelope beyond acceptable levels.