Former US President Donald Trump will face federal conspiracy charges related to his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election on March 4, 2026, according to Judge Tanya Chutkan. This decision comes as Chutkan rejected the Trump team’s request to postpone the trial until after the 2024 presidential election. The judge argued that Trump should “make the trial date work regardless of his schedule” because there is a societal interest in a speedy trial.
Trump’s lawyers had asked to push the trial date back to April 2026, citing the need for extensive discovery and preparation to defend their client against the charges. The charges stem from Trump’s alleged involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot, for which he was already impeached. Critics of the former president suggested that the request for a later trial date was merely a stalling tactic so that Trump could potentially pardon himself if he wins the election.
The proposed court date set by Judge Chutkan coincides with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ desired start date for Trump’s trial in Georgia on election-tampering charges, which is set for March 24. Additionally, it falls one day before the scheduled start date for his trial in Manhattan district court on charges of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.
These series of trial dates occur during primary season, with “Super Tuesday” on March 5, 2026, when 15 states hold their primary elections. Furthermore, 17 states are scheduled to vote after Trump’s appearance in Chutkan’s court. The Republican National Convention, where the party officially chooses its nominee, will not take place until July, by which time all four cases against Trump will have already begun court proceedings.
Trump has consistently argued that the charges against him are part of a political witch hunt to prevent him from running in 2024 and constitute illegal election interference by the Biden administration. Many of his supporters share this perspective, as evidenced by the $4.18 million in donations received by his campaign in the 24 hours following the release of his mugshot photo from Fulton County jail. This single-day donation record indicates the strong support Trump continues to have.
In addition to the trial dates and charges, Trump’s supporters have raised concerns about Judge Chutkan’s impartiality and have called for her recusal. They argue that Chutkan has been harsher than prosecutors in sentencing January 6 protesters, sending 38 of them to prison. Chutkan has been vocal about her belief that the “Stop the Steal” protest-turned-melee was an assault on US democracy directed by Trump.
Overall, the federal trial against former President Donald Trump is set to take place in March 2026, amid a series of other trials and primary elections. The outcome of these trials will have significant implications for Trump’s political future, as well as for the larger political landscape in the United States.
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