Aides expect Trump to watch the proceedings mainly on television throughout the day. But without Twitter, a campaign rally, a team of lawyers or Republicans willing to defend their actions, Trump is ready to face historic shame in a contained way.
This has been a distant outcry since the first time he was accused of impeachment, when advisers organized a campaign rally in Battle Creek, Michigan, to coincide with the House vote.
At the rally, which took place at the same time as the members were impeaching him, his press secretary appeared in the crowd to hold up a sign with the total votes.
“We got every Republican (to vote) for us!” Trump exulted when he saw the final count, adding in another point: “It doesn’t look like we’re being forfeited.”
While other Republicans are opposed to impeachment because they say it is “divisive”, they are not defending Trump on the merits of the reason he is being accused: inciting an insurrection.
Social media blackout
Trump’s places to respond to impeachment are also limited. Typically, advisers would search Twitter for the president’s first response for being the only president in history to be impeached twice. Likewise, Republican members of Congress would fear what might appear on Trump’s feed if they decided to break with him and vote for his impeachment.
But Trump’s account has been permanently suspended – and with it his primary weapon in securing GOP loyalty.
While Trump protested his suspension, telling reporters this week that freedom of expression was under attack, CNN learned of a new effort by one of its top advisers to prevent him from emerging on marginal platforms instead of the main ones from which he was forbidden .
Trump’s son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, intervened when other officials tried to restore the president’s presence on social media on sites that are often havens for extremists, like Gab, after an unprecedented ban on several major platforms.
These employees initially tried to use other Twitter accounts, including those managed by campaign officials, to tweet on Trump’s behalf.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNN.
The White House said in a statement this week that it opposes impeachment, and Trump protested the lawsuit on Tuesday.
“It is causing tremendous anger, division and pain far greater than most people will ever understand, which is very dangerous for the United States, especially in this very delicate time,” he said during his visit to Texas. The White House statement, by Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere, says: “A politically motivated impeachment against a president with 12 days left of his term will only serve to further divide our great country.”
More isolated than ever
Trump’s second impeachment comes at a time when he is more isolated than ever. Several of his cabinet secretaries – those who did not resign in protest – are avoiding him, their relationship with the vice president remains fractured and several of his senior officials are expected to step down this week.
Several of these top advisers told CNN that they do not plan to delay his departure because of the president’s impeachment.
At the White House, Trump’s defenses are almost invisible.
Two sources told CNN that Trump said he was bringing Alan Dershowitz back after his stint in Trump’s defense during the first impeachment process. Trump told people that his Dershowitz defense on the Senate floor saved him during his last trial. Rudy Giuliani is also likely to be involved, although no concrete legal strategy was patched until Wednesday morning, although Trump is expected to be charged with impeachment within hours.
Several prominent figures from Trump’s latest impeachment – including Jay Sekulow and Kenneth Starr – declined to be involved. White House lawyer Pat Cipollone is also unlikely to play a role and has considered resigning after last week’s insurrection. Trump has been rejecting Cipollone for months.
Trump has discussed granting pardons to himself and his children with new urgency since the attack on the United States Capitol, several sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
While some advisers worked to organize events this week polishing what remains of Trump’s legacy – such as diplomacy and deregulation in the Middle East – he showed little interest.
His comments promoting the construction of the Texas border wall on Tuesday lasted just 20 minutes and was overcome by his comments blaming “impeachment” anger and his suspension from social media platforms.
The only other event on its schedule for this week – a Medal of Liberty ceremony on Thursday in honor of New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick – will be canceled after Belichick said he would not attend.