According to Mark Leibovich’s book, Thank You for Your Servitude, Donald Trump’s only well-developed intuition was his ability to sniff weakness in others. Whether Trump’s intuition about people is accurate, he probably believes it is. And while we cannot be sure what Trump thinks of Attorney General Merrick Garland, there is reason to believe he considers Garland a pushover. Garland is soft-spoken and gentlemanly. And after Garland executed the search warrant on his Mar-a-Largo golf club, Trump sent Garland a threatening message. Trump asked a Department of Justice (DOJ) official to tell Garland that he had been in touch with people around the country and found them enraged by the search. According to Trump, the country was on fire. He asked Garland what he could do to reduce the heat.
Trump’s view of Garland as a weakling increases the likelihood that he will attempt to squelch any DOJ indictment against him by pressuring Garland. Given where we are as a country, trying to pressure Garland will likely involve stirring up his hardcore followers. And that is likely to produce violence. Anything Garland and the Department of Justice can do to convince Trump of their seriousness quickly may reduce the likelihood of violence.
Trump’s view of Garland as a weakling increases the likelihood that he will attempt to squelch any DOJ indictment against him by pressuring Garland. Given where we are as a country, trying to pressure Garland will likely involve stirring up his hardcore followers. And that is likely to produce violence. Anything Garland and the Department of Justice can do to convince Trump of their seriousness quickly may reduce the likelihood of violence.