Trump’s reality TV legal strategy could backfire: Jen Psaki
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was a communicator for the Joe Biden administration
June 14, 2023
Donald Trump is no legal expert, but the former president knows the business of reality TV, and he’s using what he knows to push back against multiple legal cases he’s facing.
MSNBC host and former White House press secretary Jen Psaki writes for the cable network’s website that, although the former president’s approach has paid off so far, it could eventually backfire.
Psaki notes that in the aftermath of Tuesday’s arraignment in Miami in which Trump faced a 37-count indictment in connection with the handling of classified documents, the former president went to a popular Cuban restaurant and then later a Bedminster fundraiser.
Trump’s arraignment was the news of the day, but with cameras rolling in both locations, the former president was able to present Tuesday’s events on his own terms.
Psaki writes that, “Trump knew exactly what he was doing.”
“Without courthouse cameras, a policy which seems unlikely to change, and with a Justice Department that is abiding by traditional guidelines for criminal cases, Trump is making a clear play to control the narrative. And he’s putting his old reality TV production skills to effective use.”
But Psaki said Trump’s reality TV strategy “cuts both ways,” noting that “a PR strategy isn’t a legal strategy.”
Psaki acknowledges that, without cameras in the courtroom, Trump has an opportunity to control the media narrative without much pushback.
“But for now, don’t freak out about Trump’s finding new ways to dominate the headlines,” Psaki writes.
“He’s very good at sucking up all the oxygen, but outside of Hollywood, that talent could end up a curse.”
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