April 29, 2024

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Mar-a-Lago raid will boost Trump’s expected 2024 run: experts, supporters

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The FBI raid of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida will “absolutely” rally support for the former president’s long-expected 2024 bid, political pundits and Trump’s avid supporters alike insisted Tuesday.

Both Republicans and Democrats said that Monday’s search had the potential to make Trump a “martyr” — and let the 45th president portray himself as a victim of the “corrupt government establishment.”

“The White House is claiming to have not had advance notice the FBI were going to raid the home of the preceding President of the United States?! Please. This is so sure to boost Trump and his chances, you wonder if it’s intentional,” Gregg Keller, a Missouri-based GOP strategist, told The Post.

Chuck Flint, a former chief of staff to Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) predicted the raid — reportedly part of a probe into whether Trump illegally took classified records from the White House — would unite the Republican Party behind Trump because it “solidifies a pattern of government agencies being used by the Left to target political opponents.”

“Whether it’s the IRS auditing conservative organizations or DOJ relying on a Democrat research dossier as a pretext to launch an investigation of Trump in 2016, these actions stoke GOP resentment,” Flint told The Post.

“The raid at Mar-a-Lago will energize Republican voters who haven’t forgotten Hillary Clinton deleting 33,000 emails and walking away with a slap on the wrist,” he added.

“This is a bell that can’t be un-rung,” said GOP pollster Adam Geller.

“The raid and the way in which it was orchestrated and reported gives Republican and swing voters a jolt that will essentially carry through the midterm elections and perhaps beyond,” he added. “There is no question that Republicans and President Trump can leverage this to their political benefit.”

Fellow pollster John Zogby argued that Trump would be able to seize on the raid because — in spite of his wealth — he had appealed as a candidate to those who resented being “abused by ‘elites.’”

“He has been able to hone that message because, despite the bravado, bragging and over-the-top lifestyle, he is a man who personally feels deep resentment for not being treated seriously by those same elites,” Zogby said.

“He is at his most effective when he portrays himself as the victim. And he makes a direct appeal to those who are scared of losing economic or social status, feel as if they have been bullied, or are simply afraid of the future.”

Zogby continued, “He had the good fortune to run against the epitome of the elite [Hillary Clinton] in 2016 and now the scenes of his home in Mar-a-Lago — despite its gaudiness and arrogance — are directly from central casting in a move that would portray Mr. Trump as victim.”

“Trump is absolutely turning this into a political opportunity for him,” agreed Democratic strategist Carly Cooperman. “He’s rallying his base, it’s enraging his supporters and it falls right into place with what he likes to argue about government overreach.”

“So if this turns out to be not anything very serious,” she added, “that, you know, this is just really helping his case.”

Other prominent political watchers predicted on Twitter that Trump’s support will only surge after the 45th president complained about his estate being raided, “occupied” and “under siege” by the feds.

Former “The View” co-host Meghan McCain, an outspoken critic of Trump, tweeted in response to the news: “This better be legit – or you’re making him a martyr and just handing him 2024 on a silver platter…”

Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.) also weighed in, writing that the raid would “rally people behind President Trump when he runs for re-election against Biden.”

Meanwhile, former NYC mayoral and Democratic presidential candidate, Andrew Yang, tweeted that while he wasn’t a Trump fan, part of the real estate mogul’s appeal is his perceived stand against government wrongdoing.

“This raid strengthens that case for millions of Americans who will see this as unjust persecution,” Yang wrote.

Some of those die-hard Trump fans gathered outside Trump Tower on Manhattan’s Fifth Ave. early Tuesday — hoping that he would announce a 2024 bid soon.

“I hope Trump comes down the escalator today and just says, ‘You know what, forget it — I’m announcing today.’ He’s gonna come back and save America, save America from the Democrats,” Dion Cini, a Brooklyn resident and veteran, told The Post.

“It’s all gone to s–t in the last 18 months. We need him back more now than ever.”

When asked if the raid would energize his fellow Trump supporters, Cini said: “Absolutely, 100%.”

His wife Fiona insisted that the FBI’s action would “bring some people out of the woodwork”, and added that she hoped it “wakes some people to realize what’s going on.”

John Riches, a New Jersey resident and Afghanistan war vet, insisted that “this will absolutely bring tons of people off the fence.”

“Especially the younger voters who haven’t been brainwashed. They all saw the total nonsense last night. The whole world saw it,” he continued.

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