Trump's Release of the MLK Jr. Files Was a Pathetic Gamble

"On January 20, Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office with-at least in his mind-an aura of invincibility. A fully compliant Congress was controlled by Republicans who were, in turn, controlled by him. Conservative justices, three of whom he had appointed, dominated the Supreme Court. The defeated opposition, the Democratic Party, seemed distinctly befuddled and weak. Trump then smashed and bullied his way through his first 100 days,"

"For example, while he made gains with Black voters in the 2024 election, rising from 8 percent in 2020 to 15 percent, the last six months have seen a dramatic change in that support. In January 2025, according to a YouGov poll, Black Americans' disapproval of Trump was at about 69 percent. By June, it had risen to about 85 percent. Through it all, however, his support among Republicans continued to hover between 88 percent and 95 percent."

"Then, of course, came the Jeffrey Epstein crisis. Trump himself seeded conspiracies surrounding the dead pedophile and his accomplices at rallies and in social media postings. He minimized his 20-year friendship with both Epstein and his girlfriend (and convicted child trafficker) Ghislaine Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year sentence for her part in their horrific crimes. Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and FBI Director Kash Patel each claimed at some point to have evidence"

Donald Trump returned to the Oval Office on January 20, 2025, projecting invincibility amid Republican Congressional control and conservative Supreme Court influence. He issued executive orders and used retribution during his first 100 days, crossing democratic redlines while keeping MAGA base loyalty. Black voter support rose from 8 percent in 2020 to 15 percent in 2024, yet YouGov found Black disapproval increasing from roughly 69 percent in January 2025 to about 85 percent by June. Republican backing remained between 88 and 95 percent. The Jeffrey Epstein crisis intensified as Trump seeded conspiracies, minimized a long friendship with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, and, with Pam Bondi and Kash Patel, claimed to possess evidence of a supposed deep-state cover-up amid bizarre pedophile stories.

Read at The Nation