From Speeches to Indictment: The Political Career of Donald Trump

Sidney Lentz
4 min readApr 18, 2023

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The last few years have been marked by a series of significant events involving former president Donald Trump. From his return to Washington D.C. in July 2022 to his announcement of candidacy for the 2024 presidential election in November of the same year, and now his recent arrest in April 2023, Trump has remained a prominent figure in American politics and global media. These events have sparked intense interest and scrutiny from the public, as evidenced by notable spikes in pageviews on his corresponding Wikipedia page. The ongoing legal investigations and the potential consequences for Trump’s political future have only intensified this interest. Overall, Trump’s enduring impact on American politics and the world at large is a testament to his unique political brand and the polarizing nature of his presidency.

On July 14, 2022, former President Donald Trump made a highly anticipated announcement that he would be returning to Washington D.C. to deliver a major policy speech. This event marked his first return to the nation’s capital since his presidential term concluded in January 2021. The timing of his speech was significant, as it occurred just days after the conclusion of a House investigation into the January Capitol Riot, which was instigated by a pro-Trump mob and speculated to be incited by the former president himself following his loss in the 2020 presidential election.

The announcement of Trump’s return to D.C. generated widespread speculation regarding his political intentions, with many wondering if he was planning to run for president in the 2024 election. The demand for information regarding Trump and his potential political ambitions skyrocketed, as evidenced by a notable spike in page views on Trump’s Wikipedia page from July 14th to July 16th in 2022

Overall, Trump’s announcement to return to Washington D.C. and deliver a major policy speech marked a significant moment in American politics, and the subsequent spike in public interest underscored the enduring impact of his political brand. Regardless of his ultimate political ambitions, the former president’s return to the national stage was a significant event that captured the attention of millions of Americans.

On November 16, 2022, Donald Trump made headlines once again with his announcement of candidacy for the 2024 presidential election. Trump’s decision to announce his candidacy only a week after the midterm elections was seen by some as a strategic move to energize his political base after a disappointing outcome for the Republican PArty, which failed to gain a Senate majority. However, others saw it as a move that could potentially polarize an already deeply divided nation.

The controversies surrounding Trump’s candidacy announcement cannot be ignored. As the only U.S. president to be impeached twice, Trump’s candidacy was met with widespread scrutiny and backlash. Many have accused him of “democratic backsliding” for his alleged involvement in inciting insurrection at the Capitol, and his candidacy announcement only further intensified these concerns.

The global interest in Trump’s candidacy announcement was reflected in the third-highest spike in page views on his corresponding Wikipedia page in the past year. This interest was likely driven by questions about the potential implications of another Trump presidency for the United States and world at large.

In recent weeks, the legal troubles of the former U.S. President Donald Trump has made headlines both domestically and internationally. Trump’s decision to move forward with his 2024 presidential campaign in November 2022 has been followed by a series of legal investigations into his conduct before, during and after his presidency.

On April 1st, 2023, Trump surrendered to authorities for arraignment in New York on 34 charges of falsified statements “made to cover up other crimes”. This investigation began in February 2021, focusing on allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election. It has since expanded to include a special counsel investigation into Trump’s efforts to interfere with the transfer of power following the election of Joe Biden, culminating in the Capitol riot on January 6th, 2021.

Despite his recent arrest, Trump has continued to deny any wrongdoing and dismisses the claims made against him as “radical”. However, the severity of the charges against him has raised questions about the future of his political career and potential consequences if found guilty.

The news of Trump’s arrest generated significant interest and resulted in the second-highest spike in page views on his Wikipedia page on April 4th and 5th. The public’s curiosity about the ongoing legal proceedings and the potential implications for Trump’s future has been reflected in the heightened interest in his Wikipedia page.

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