Former President Donald Trump needs to suspend his 2024 presidential campaign because of his inability to act civilly in, and out, of a courtroom. His actions are embarrassing, both for himself and the American public.

Commonly known for his inflammatory rhetoric and flamboyant commentary, Trump has made his mark on America; however, he is not remembered for his policies or politics but rather for his X, formerly known as Twitter, account. 

His behavior should tell the American public that Trump is not the president we are looking for. He is a figurehead and a loose cannon.

Previously, the worst consequence Trump had to deal with was a ban on his Twitter account. Now, he has been convicted of fraud in a civil case, according to NPR. 

During the course of the trial, Trump made a false and purposefully incendiary comment about a member of the court’s staff and was issued a gag order prohibiting him from targeting the court staff, prosecutors and witnesses, according to AP News. 

By failing to treat court staffers with respect, Trump has clearly outlined that he believes he is above the law and can treat people however he feels they should be treated, rather than how they should be treated – with respect.

The utilization of a gag order in this case is fitting, especially given that Trump has a history of problematic exclamations about situations he does not fully grasp and people he does not know. 

Paul Cain, an NIU clinical professor of law, provided an explanation of what a gag order is designed to do.

“A gag order is issued by a judge to protect the integrity of the judicial process. And another reason is to avoid poisoning the jury pool,” Cain said. 

Poisoning the jury pool could include jury tampering: making commentary on social media or to the press that the jurors could consume that would change their opinion of the case. 

Jury tampering is a serious problem, and there is a real concern, especially given the high-profile nature of this case. The decision to instate and enforce gag order is a smart one.  

“So, President Trump issued additional statements on his social media platform that were directed either towards staff or prosecutors, or that could be interpreted in that manner,” Cain said. “And so that’s why he was sanctioned with, initially, a $5,000 fine, and then when he did it again with a $10,000 fine.” 

By blatantly disregarding the rules the judge had put in place, Trump showed he was not worried about the monetary aspects. 

His failure to abide by rules is embarrassing for our government. A former president should show respect for the court system rather than a blatant disregard for their role in American government. 

Should Trump continue to violate the gag order, sanctions may expand to include jail time in addition to already existent monetary fines. 

“The other interesting thing would be if former President Trump continues to violate the gag order, and the judge decides to up the ante as far as sanctions,” Cain said. “How realistic is it that President Trump would be incarcerated for violating the gag order? Because of all kinds of logistical issues, then, of course, he’s entitled to Secret Service protection as a former president.”

While there are logistical concerns, Trump should be treated the same as any other American in legal proceedings. He is not above the law, regardless of how he presents himself to the public.