'Sitting there neutered': Laughing pundit mocks Trump's hush money trial campaign tactics

Donny Deutsch believes former President Donald Trump's criminal trial is having a surprising effect, considering it involves accusations that he paid hush money to an adult film star.

"Anybody who thinks this is making him empathetic or rallying his troops, no," Deutsch said during a Monday appearance on MSNBC. "He's sitting there neutered, powerless. For the first time in his life and he can't do and say what he wants."

Deutsch argued that the nation is watching an important challenge to what he described as the former president's privilege.

"Look, here's what our system says," Deutsch said. "There's this privileged person who tried to take advantage of the law in a way you can't, and he's not above the law."

The commentator argued Trump's attempt to brand himself a renegade will end up with a label that could spell trouble for his 2024 presidential campaign: "convicted felon."

Host Nicolle Wallace was quick to agree with Deutsch's assessment of the Manhattan criminal court trial where Trump stands accused of falsifying business records in a bid to bury alleged scandals ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

"He knows that," Wallace said.

Wallace then proceeded to list the women expected to testify in the case, brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, with whom Trump had relationships she described as intimate.

"Hope [Hicks] is a close adviser who was known to steam his pants while he was wearing them," Wallace said. "A very trusted consigliere."

Deustch broke into laughter and said, "Can we get rid of that image, please?"

Deutsch later repeated his assertion that President Joe Biden's best bet for reclaiming the White House next year is a media cycle dominated by "more Trump."

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"That is what happened in 2020," Deutsch explained. "More Trump is out there. You know, in a weird and bizarre way, although I said this earlier that it makes him look neutered, it is keeping him quiet."

He explained that he wants Trump to get back out on the campaign trail to remind Americans of who he is.

"So, I like gag orders but I want to hear his voice out there, and the more he shows himself, the more Biden has a better chance of winning," Deutsch said. "So, he's in this little encampment now that contains him. Let's get him back out on the streets."

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Correction: In an earlier version of this article, Hope Hicks' first name was misspelled.