Victor Davis Hanson says Donald Trump's return was remarkable because Trump was already in his 70s, 'didn't exercise,' 'ate a lot' and 'didn't sleep.' Hanson also says Trump faced heavy pressure after leaving the White House in early 2021.
Hanson pointed to Jan. 6, 2021, the 2022 launch of Jack Smith as special prosecutor, the Mar-a-Lago raid, efforts to keep Trump off the ballot in 22 states, and separate legal fights involving Fani Willis, Letitia James and Alvin Bragg. He also said Trump faced 'four occasions' when the Secret Service returned fire at potential assassins.
Hanson argued the push against Trump helped strengthen him politically rather than break him. He said Trump's ratings 'either did not fall or they went up' after those episodes.
Between the lines: this is about more than one politician. It is about what happens when legal, political and media power are all aimed at one target, and whether voters see that as accountability or overreach.
Why it matters: in Washington, the line between enforcement and political warfare has become a central fight. Hanson says Trump turned that fight into proof that the system was coming after him — and that voters rewarded him for it.