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Could Trump win the presidency even if convicted of a crime?
Could Trump win the presidency even if convicted of a crime? | GZERO World
April 20, 2023
What if a US presidential candidate were found guilty of a crime, yet still actively campaigned for the highest office in the land? On GZERO World, Ian Bremmer and Preet Bharara, former US attorney for the Southern District of New York, explored that scenario for former President Donald Trump, who just got indicted in New York but is running again in 2024.
Bharara revealed that Trump could still run for and potentially even win the presidency, despite being "pending trial, charged, or convicted," and even end up in prison." However, he warned, with no legal precedent, there are implications for how we think about the rule of law and the standard of justice for everyone, as well as the US electoral system.
The former federal prosecutor, who was fired by Trump, says the former president is unlikely to face jail due to his age, lack of criminal record, and severity of the charges. There's also the issue of his Secret Service protection.
Bharara speculated that Trump might try to manipulate the threat of prosecution to garner sympathy and portray himself as a victim of political persecution, a tactic that may help him in the short-term, but could have far-reaching implications for the future of American democracy.
Watch this episode of GZERO World: Parsing Donald Trump's indictment
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On Ian Explains, Ian Bremmer takes a look at the growing surge in global conflict and the ripple effects of so much violence, war, and armed struggle throughout the world.
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French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and businessman Jared Kushner, along with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and otherEuropean leaders, pose for a group photo at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, December 15, 2025.
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The European Union just pulled off something that, a year ago, seemed politically impossible: it froze $247 billion in Russian central bank assets indefinitely, stripping the Kremlin of one of its most reliable pressure points.
Big global stories. Real conversations with world leaders. Our award-winning global affairs show, GZERO World with Ian Bremmer, goes beyond the headlines on the stories that matter most. Here’s a look back at the 10 most quotable moments from this year’s episodes.
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