On the night time a dozen of Donald Trump’s Republican rivals spoke at the identical occasion in Iowa, just one challenged the previous president head on – and he was roundly booed. It highlights the grip Mr Trump nonetheless has on his get together.

Someone backstage at the Lincoln Dinner clearly had a mischievous sense of humour.

As every of the candidates hoping to change into the Republican Party’s presidential nominee for 2024 walked out to talk they had been accompanied by a blast of music: a clip of the nation track Only In America.

When it was Mr Trump’s flip, two lyrics, describing two different paths that might await somebody in the US, appeared significantly poignant:

One may find yourself going to jail

One simply may be president

The forty fifth President of the United States did not appear to thoughts. He would not attempt to disguise from the truth that he’s already dealing with two prison trials and should quickly be indicted in two extra instances. In reality, he wears these expenses as a badge of delight.

Mr Trump insists he’s being unfairly focused for purely political causes.

He advised the gang of 1,200 Republican supporters at this dinner in Iowa – a key state as a result of it is going to maintain the primary election in the race for the nomination subsequent January – that he wouldn’t have been prosecuted if he was not working for the White House once more. And he wouldn’t have been prosecuted if he was not profitable.

Using severe prison expenses as a mark of success takes chutzpah. But that’s one thing Mr Trump has at all times had in spades. And it leaves his opponents deeply confused about the best way to reply.

Most merely selected to disregard Thursday night’s information that Mr Trump had been charged with three extra counts in the categorised paperwork investigation. In reality, they declined to take the chance to problem the clear frontrunner in the competition at all.

One of the lesser identified contenders, Will Hurd, did take a shot. The former Texas Congressman and CIA officer claimed Donald Trump was not working to make America nice once more.

“Donald Trump is not running for president to represent the people that voted for him in 2016 or 2020. Donald Trump is running to stay out of prison.”

Loud boos and rattling cutlery almost drowned out the remainder of what he needed to say, with one man shouting “go home”. It was clear he had misplaced the room.

Stacey Taiber, one among many Republican voters carrying Trump stickers, advised me she didn’t consider any of the costs towards Mr Trump. If the political institution had been “trying so hard to get him out of the way they must be terrified he will beat Joe Biden”, she mentioned.

Her husband, Dan, mentioned it was President Biden and his son Hunter who must be dealing with prison trials. He and lots of others in the ballroom repeated unproven allegations about Hunter’s enterprise dealings and claims of overseas affect (which the White House has dismissed however Republicans in Congress are investigating).

There was no enjoyable available watching the completely different candidates interacting with one another at the dinner. They every had their very own backstage suite which they popped out of to ship their 10-minute speech. They truly did not need to see one another at all.

Maybe there shall be extra fireworks when the candidates come head to head at the primary Republican debate on 23 August – though Mr Trump has instructed he would possibly skip it as a result of he’s up to now forward in the polls.

Chris Sununu, the Republican governor of New Hampshire, isn’t any fan of the previous president however not too long ago dominated himself out of working towards him in 2024.

He advised me that for the opposite candidates to compete with Mr Trump it isn’t about what they are saying – as a result of there aren’t important coverage variations – it’s about how they carry out.

“They need to be exciting, bring some passion, show some emotion, and they need a bit of humour and charisma.”

Who voters like and who they assume can win is what issues, he added, noting that it was very arduous for newcomers to the nationwide stage to compete with the title recognition and star energy of a former president.

Vivek Ramaswamy, the millennial entrepreneur and political novice, was one candidate who confirmed at Friday’s dinner that he has the potential to interrupt out from the crowded discipline of candidates at present polling in single digits.

After a barnstorming efficiency, he received one of many few standing ovations – together with Mr Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the candidate at present sitting in second place in most surveys.

Outside the venue there was a stall promoting the standard badges, T-shirts and baseball caps. Thirteen candidates appeared on stage (Chris Christie was the one official contender to not attend), however solely 4 of them had their names on the merchandise.

Mr Trump, Mr DeSantis and Mr Ramaswamy, together with Tim Scott, the senator from South Carolina who has been getting a little bit of consideration not too long ago.

“I’ve been making my living doing this for a long time,” the seller advised me. “I know what sells.” And Republicans have at all times been sturdy believers in market forces in spite of everything.