Donald Trump's indictment is "a political theatre" rather than a serious attempt to bring him before the law" and the Democrats actually want him to become the Republican candidate, an expert has claimed.
As the former US President today pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records, a Professor of international politics has claimed the Democrats have played down any harm he may have caused - because he is an easier opponent for Joe Biden in 2024.
Trump faces charges related to hush money payments made to two women over alleged extramarital affairs, but there is wide speculation about just what impact, if any, this indictment will have on Trump's political chances.
And City, University of London's Professor of International Politics, Inderjeet Parmar, claims Trump's political opponents want him to become the Republican nominee for 2024 and the indictment to boost his support - to thereby damage the Republican party long-term.
Prof Parmar said: "Trump wants to be seen as a 'political prisoner' but, in terms of the turnout, there were far more media people than actual supporters of Trump.
"Two weeks ago he called for people to protest in his support, but that hasn't been seen. So, it strikes me that this a more of a political 'theatre' rather than a serious attempt to bring him before the law."
The expert outlined what he sees as the current US President's and the Democrats' "official strategy".
Prof Parmar claimed: "The Democratic party has done its utmost to play down the actual danger that the consequences could have had, had Trump succeeded on January 6, 2021.
"He could have prevented the certification of the election - really really great damage. But the Democrats played it all down. So this indictment today is part of this bigger picture."
Prof Parmar added: "There is a part of me which thinks that the Democrats actually want Trump to win the Republican nomination and be the opponent for 2024, because they can probably galvanise enough anti-Trump votes for Biden, whereas another candidate - say Ron DeSantis - is probably much more dangerous, as a result.
"This appears to have been the official strategy of the Democrats, to put the spotlight on Trump. They must be thinking, 'These people are so extreme that if you make them your opponent, you are much more likely to win'.
"It's what you could call a 'project of fear'. Because the fear of Trump is a greater galvanising vote than the love for Biden."
Prof Parmar also claimed that a potential acquittal of Trump could give him a significant boost in his campaign to win the Republican nomination for the upcoming primaries.
And he claimed an acquittal would empower Trump to claim political persecution and give him "moral authority".
He claimed: "Acquittal empowers him and allows him to cry political persecution, as well as proclaiming himself as a fighter for liberal American values and more moral authority – which could not be further from the truth."
However, the professor cautioned that America's political class is still unwilling to come to terms with the full horror and consequences of the Capitol Hill riots of January 6, 2021.
They are reluctant to face the far-right storm that may occur if Trump is to face the full force of the law, the professor said.
He claimed: "In that regard, the Stormy Daniels indictment is largely political 'theatre', a distraction from the really important matter of far-right threats to American democracy from within the GOP and white supremacist allies.
"The world should take heed when one half of the US party political system no longer accepts the outcome of free and fair elections when it is on the losing end."
Meanwhile, another expert in American political communications, Frank Ian Luntz, suggested that Trump is using his indictment to unify the GOP.
The consultant and pollster told The Mirror: "Trump is a virtuoso in victimisation politics - and this is his best masterpiece yet.
"Who would have thought that the most divisive politician in modern times would use his own indictment as a tool to unify the hopelessly divided Republican Party?
"He could ride this wave of sympathy right to the Republican nomination, but make no mistake, every wave crashes when it reaches the shore."
