Donald Trump will closely track his impeachment trial this week from the comfort of his Mar-a-Lago residence as he prepares for a guns blazing return to politics after his almost assured acquittal.
Trump is comparing the whole ordeal to his time as a TV personality, claiming the period between leaving Washington and waiting for the trial to conclude is like waiting for a new season of his show to start.
'He's compared it to that time in between seasons of 'The Apprentice,' building anticipation and wonderment for what's to come,' one adviser told Politico of his preparations for a 'second act.'
As the Senate trial kicks off Tuesday afternoon, the former president will forgo his usual routine of hitting the links at his Palm Beach golf club and instead set up in front of the TV for the remainder of the proceedings, his aides say.
Impeachment managers, led by Representative Jamie Raskin, tried on Thursday to compel Trump to testify in the trial. But Senate leadership has snubbed the idea of witness calling in general in an effort to expedite the process.
David Schoen, one of Trump's impeachment defense attorneys, withdrew his previous request to pause the trial Friday evening and all Saturday so he could observe the Sabbath.
'I very much appreciated your decision,' Schoen said in a letter to Senate leadership on Monday, 'but I remain concerned about the delay in the proceedings in a process that I recognize is important to bring a conclusion for all involved and for the country.'
National Guard troops arrive at the Capitol Tuesday morning as they prepare to help Capitol Police patrol the building as the second impeachment trial against Donald Trump kicks off
At least 5,000 National Guard members are still deployed to Washington D.C. following the fallout of the January 6 Capitol riot
Donald Trump will take a break from golf this week to hunker down and watch impeachment proceedings on TV from his Mar-a-Lago residence
The president's aides, including son-in-law Jared Kushner (left) and daughter Ivanka Trump (right) have advised the former president to keep a low profile until the trial concludes as it still appears he is on the path toward acquittal
Trump (pictured here in his red hat) has golfed nearly every day since leaving Washington, and has reveled in his ability to shape the news cycle despite infrequent public statements
The impeachment proceedings could run straight through the weekend after one of Trump's lawyers, David Schoen, withdrew his previous request to break for the Sabbath Friday evening through Saturday
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer arrived at the Capitol on Tuesday. He and other Senate leaders denied impeachment managers' request to call witnesses in the trial
'I am writing today to withdraw my request so that the proceedings can go forward as originally contemplated before I made my request,' he wrote to Senate's President pro tempore Patrick Leahy, Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell – adding that changes were made in the defense strategy that will allow him to take off but the trial to proceed.
This means the trial proceedings could run straight through the weekend without any break.
While Schoen is expected to present the defense's case on Tuesday, the president's other impeachment defense lawyer Bruce Castor – and his associate Michael van der Veen – are expected to take over for the remainder of the defense case.
Democrats are charging Trump with 'incitement of insurrection', specifically pointing to a speech he made to thousands of his supporters on January 6 before they marched to the Capitol and stormed the building.
The riot resulted in five deaths and hundreds of injuries – it also caused six hours of chaos and fear among Congress members who were forced to shelter in place, evacuate or bunker down in the chambers as protesters banged on the doors.
Despite Trump's overall public silence since leaving office, those close to him say he is reveling in his ability to still shape the news cycle without a Twitter account and garner mass coverage with just a few public statements.
'He finally realizes less is more,' an adviser to the 45th president told Politico.
On Tuesday afternoon, Trump's lawyers Bruce Castor (left) and David Schoen (right) will begin their defense argument by claiming impeachment of a former president is unconstitutional
Democratic House impeachment managers, led by Representative Jamie Raskin (pictured), argued Trump 'incited an insurrection' and tried on Thursday to compel the former president to testify in the trial
The former president's lawyers responded to the request by claiming it was confirmation 'you cannot prove your allegations against' Trump
Trump became quickly known in his 2016 campaign for his outward presence on Twitter and his say-whatever's-on-his-mind approach.
His account was finally indefinitely suspended last month after Twitter claimed he was inciting violence with his posts.
Since leaving Washington, Trump has taken the advice of his closest aides, including his daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner, by spending most of his days on his Palm Beach golf course and out of the public eye.
One aide said: 'Right now Trump is thinking, 'I've got 45 votes, all I have to do is go golfing and not do anything.'
Ivanka and Jared, who both served as his senior advisers during Trump's presidency, have warned him that being too public too soon could screw up his chances of acquittal in the Senate.
Kushner has reportedly used the phrase, 'Snatch defeat for the jaws of victory,' several times.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Senate impeachment trial will kick off with a four-hour debate on whether impeaching an ex-president is constitutional.
Schoen and Castor will argue it is not.
Immediately following, the senators will vote on the constitutionality of the proceedings, which will give a good indication if some Republicans are open to conviction.
Already 45 Republicans, led by Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, voted that it's unconstitutional to go forward with impeaching Trump in Congress since he has already left office.
At least 17 Republicans would need to vote for Trump's impeachment for a successful conviction.
Part of the video will show Democrats, like Representative Maxine Waters of California and Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, using 'inflammatory rhetoric' and calling for violence against Republicans and Trump supporters.
They will also present instances when Democrats objected to election results in the past – like Representative Jim McGovern objecting in 2016 to Trump's win in the deep red state of Alabama.
Trump's lawyers also plan to present a premeditated attempt to boot Trump from office from Day One, playing sounds bites of Democrats pushing for Trump's impeachment before he ever was sworn in.
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