Why Texas Republicans defend indicted Donald Trump: Politically, it’s a ‘no-brainer’ | Opinion

Notice what Republicans say about former President Donald Trump.

And what they don’t say.

Texans in Congress were quick to speak this weekend about the first of what may be multiple indictments of the 2024 Republican presidential front-runner, mainly because he remains the presidential front-runner.

But many sided less with Trump and more against “Democrats” or “New York.”

And some Texas Republicans remained mum in a state where Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was leading or running even with Trump before his re-emergence as presidential victim.

Take Rep. Roger Williams of Parker County, a cagey 10-year congressman and 45-year local car dealer who now represents Arlington.

Williams was on stage along with “My Pillow guy” Mike Lindell and 1970s rocker Ted Nugent last week at Trump’s Waco rally, endorsing Trump but talking repeatedly about a man whose first and last names sounded like one: “Joebiden.”

“We need a business person to run the business of America,” said Williams, chairman of the House Small Business Committee. “Under Joebiden, we’re woke and we’re broke. ... At the end of the day, all of us have to stand with President Trump.”

Five days later, with news looming of a Trump indictment on yet-unspecified charges, Williams kept his laser focus on one-word opponents: either former foes “Obama,” “Hillary,” “Joebiden” or simply “Democrats.”

“Make no mistake,” Williams posted at 8:25 p.m. Thursday on his campaign page at twitter.com/rogerwilliamstx: “this crazy move by the rogue, liberal extremist NY DA is an attack on the American people.”

It took him 38 words to name the defendant.

“This is no doubt a desperate attempt by the far left to silence voters who support President Trump,” Williams wrote. “Democrats have fully weaponized our justice system for political purposes. This is a threat to the American People. We are fed up. We must save our country. I stand with President Trump.”

As a new committee chairman, Williams has to line up with the team for Republican unity behind the party’s apparent front-runner.

Southern Methodist University professor Matthew Wilson, an expert on conservative Republican politics, said Williams’ strategy is a “no-brainer.”

“Even those who may not personally be wild about Trump have every incentive to denounce this indictment as prosecutorial overreach,” he wrote by email.

In his district, Williams has nothing to fear from a Democratic challenger or a moderate Republican, Wilson wrote.

“ An incumbent Republican like Congressman Williams can only help himself by beating the drum on this,” Wilson wrote. “His only potential threat would be a Republican primary challenger from the right, and being aggressive and vocal in his defense of Trump and denouncing leftist capture of the justice system helps to pre-empt any thought of that.”

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Houston lawyer, was not at the Waco rally. He has not endorsed Trump.

Notably, his comment was totally focused on the opposing party: “The Democrat Party’s hatred for Donald Trump knows no bounds. ... This is completely unprecedented and is a catastrophic escalation in the weaponization of the justice system.”

Even several officials from Trump’s Texas campaign were quiet about the legal case.

Trump’s state campaign chairman, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, did not comment at first.

But Gov. Greg Abbott, who handles Trump the way you would handle a sizzling skillet over a campfire, commented before Patrick — although he never mentioned Trump’s name.

“Weaponization of our courts for political grievances is an abhorrent abuse of power,” Abbott wrote. “The George Soros-supported NYC DA is only furthering the radical liberal agenda to have elections determined at the jury box rather than the ballot box. America deserves better.”

With nine months for 2024 challengers to file and nearly a year before primary voting, the possibility of multiple Trump indictments leaves Republicans in uncertain territory, yet certain they can benefit from voter backlash.

Basically, it’s all about being for Trump without being for Trump.