Democrats Target Trump Rally with Billboard Labeling Him “Convicted White-Collar Crook “
According to a report by The Guardian on Thursday, June 6, 2024, Democrats are targeting Donald Trump’s first full-scale campaign rally since his criminal trial with a billboard that brands him “a convicted white-collar crook”.
The ad, paid for by the Democratic National Committee (DNC), is the latest indication that the party is ready to become more aggressive in capitalizing on last month’s guilty verdict in New York.
“Trump was a disaster for Nevada’s economy,” says the billboard, which will be displayed in Las Vegas, where Trump is due to speak on Sunday.
“Now he’s back. A convicted white-collar crook. Coddling billionaires, leaving workers behind.”
This campaign marks an escalation in the Democrats’ strategy to use Trump’s criminal conviction as a focal point in their political messaging.
A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records in his hush-money criminal trial, making him the first former US president to be convicted of a felony.
Judge Juan Merchan set a sentencing hearing for 11 July.
The Democratic party, while recognizing the potential risks, is evidently committed to emphasizing the verdict in their rhetoric.
There is a palpable concern within the party that this line of attack could backfire, potentially fostering a narrative that the trial was politically motivated and engendering sympathy for Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee.
However, recent actions suggest a shift towards a more confrontational stance.
On Monday, at a campaign reception in Greenwich, Connecticut, Joe Biden referred to his opponent as a “convicted felon”.
The Las Vegas billboard is designed to link Trump’s criminal record directly to his economic policies, portraying him as a “white-collar crook” who disadvantaged Nevada’s working class during his presidency.
The term “white-collar crook” harks back to the “Crooked Hillary” label that Trump effectively used during the 2016 campaign, suggesting the Democrats are adopting a similar tactic to turn the tables on Trump.
Stephanie Justice, a DNC spokesperson, stated: “As Donald Trump returns to Nevada this weekend for the first time as a convicted felon, voters will remember this crook left Nevada’s workers out to dry as president.
After promising to take care of Nevada’s middle class, he implemented a tax scam that made the ultra-wealthy and corporations wealthier off the backs of working families, repeatedly attacked unions and sat back as Nevada bled tens of thousands of jobs.”
This approach aims to highlight the contrast between Trump’s promises and his actions, particularly focusing on the economic impact of his policies on ordinary Americans.
By branding Trump as a convicted felon and emphasizing his alleged betrayal of the working class, Democrats hope to sway public opinion and gain an edge in the upcoming election.
The decision to place the billboard in Las Vegas is strategic, given Nevada’s significance as a swing state and its economic struggles.
The message is tailored to resonate with Nevadans who may feel disillusioned by Trump’s previous tenure.
By reminding voters of the economic hardships they endured and linking them to Trump’s criminal activities, the Democrats are attempting to undermine his appeal.
