Trump DC Trial Set for March 4, 1 Day Before Super Tuesday

The judge in the criminal election interference case against former President Donald Trump set a trial date for March 4, 2024 — just one day before more than a dozen states’ Republican primaries.

The Details: US District Judge Tanya Chutkan rejected both Trump’s April 2026 request, which she said was “far beyond what is necessary,” and special counsel Jack Smith’s January 2024 request, which she said did not “give the defense enough time to prepare for trial.”

Super Tuesday: Fifteen states will hold Republican primaries or caucuses on March 5. That date, known as “Super Tuesday,” often plays a decisive role in party primaries. North Dakota’s caucus is scheduled for March 4. 

For Context: Federal prosecutors allege Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election result violated criminal law against conspiring to defraud Americans of their constitutional right to vote, to defraud the United States, and to obstruct an official proceeding — the congressional proceedings on January 6, 2021. Trump pleaded not guilty to each of the four charges in the case. 

How the Media Covered It: Coverage was widespread across the news media. While most coverage primarily tied the case to Trump, calling it “Trump’s prosecution,” Fox News (Right bias) framed it as “Special Counsel Jack Smith’s case.” The Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) noted the date’s political significance by labeling it “Manic Monday.”