Trump bets indictments could make him 2024 nominee | First Thing

Ex-president hopes his legal woes will harden support from his base, but general election voters may recoil at his felony charges. Plus, a historian's view of tying the knot

Good morning.

Donald Trump appeared angry and shaken during his arraignment in Manhattan criminal court on Tuesday, but he had brushed off the moment by the weekend, contending that the indictment and other legal troubles would carry him to the 2024 Republican nomination, people close to him said.

Why does Trump think it will help him? The benefits to Trump of using for campaign purposes his indictment over hush money allegedly paid to the adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016 has been readily apparent, providing him with a boost across all areas: in polling, fundraising and in wall-to-wall media coverage.

What other trouble is Trump facing? As well as state and federal investigations of his election subversion, a federal investigation of his retention of classified records and a civil lawsuit over his business practices, he faces a civil defamation suit arising from an allegation of rape.

What did Fox News say? This matter has been resolved amicably by both sides," it said in a statement on Sunday. We have no further comment." Lawyers for Fox News and Dobbs referred Reuters to the statement. Khalil's lawyer did not respond immediately to a request for comment.