海角大神

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has a new adversary in his attempt to win back the White House. It鈥檚 not special counsel Jack Smith, or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other GOP rivals. It鈥檚 not even President Joe Biden.

It鈥檚 the clock.

Next year, Mr. Trump will face a long, demanding campaign schedule. Primary season begins with Iowa鈥檚 Republican caucuses on Jan. 15 and stretches through June. If he wins the nomination 鈥� and he鈥檚 currently the faraway front-runner 鈥� general election rallies and other events will suck up his time.

But he might also face a grueling legal schedule, preparing for and attending criminal trials.

Mr. Trump鈥檚 attorneys have made clear that they would prefer his federal criminal cases be postponed until after the election. That鈥檚 possible, but not likely.

His classified documents trial in Florida is set to begin in May 鈥� though that could change. This week鈥檚 indictment on election charges related to Jan. 6 appears designed to produce as speedy a trial as possible. Mr. Trump is the sole defendant. Counts are narrowly focused.

The judge in the trial has set a first hearing on Aug. 28, saying she鈥檒l pick a trial date then.

The bottom line: Next year鈥檚 election could be unlike any in American history, with traditional issues swept aside for a swirling focus on courtroom drama and Mr. Trump鈥檚 legal fate, including possible jail time.

鈥淭his election may very well be about Donald Trump鈥檚 personal freedom,鈥� longtime GOP strategist Ari Fleischer