Donald Trump indicted: How former president's indictments affect other GOP candidates

While former President Donald Trump's 2024 Republican rivals gave various responses to his latest indictment, one thing is clear; the indictment puts their campaigns in a complicated position.

Moral qualms aside, Trump's indictment poses several issues for rivals. The media frenzy that inevitably follows each indictment gives the GOP front-runner endless hours of attention and free press, often at the expense of his rivals. It also puts the candidates in an awkward position, making them choose between defending and praising their rival and running the risk of further boosting his popularity or condemning him and running the risk of alienating his devoted supporters.

Jim Merrill, a New Hampshire-based GOP strategist, outlined these two issues, speaking with the Hill.

“It’s an enormous challenge for every campaign, particularly those who are reliant on earned media,” he said, referring to the issue of the focus of press coverage on Trump. “They all are to one degree or another.”

Merrill drew parallels with the 2016 presidential campaign, where candidates quickly found themselves as mere players in the Trump show.