Topline
A majority of American adults believe former President Donald Trump’s recent indictment in the hush money payments case in New York was justified, according to an AP-NORC released on Thursday, although the responses appear to be strongly divided along partisan lines.
Former President Donald Trump is seen leaving Trump Tower in New York City.
Key Facts
According to the poll, 57% of U.S. adults believe the Manhattan grand jury’s indictment was justified.
In response to a separate question 57% of respondents also said they believe the indictment was politically motivated.
The results are heavily skewed along partisan lines, with 90% of Democrats and 25% of Republicans saying the indictment was justified, while 86% of Republicans and 34% of Democrats said it was politically motivated.
On the issue of the legality of Trump’s actions in various cases against him, only 41% of Americans say his actions were illegal in the hush money payments case, but this number sharply rises to 49% and 53% when it comes to his alleged role in the U.S. Capitol attacks and interference in the 2020 Georgia vote count.
A large majority of American adults, 70%, do not want Trump to run for reelection, with Republicans (55%) being the only cohort where a majority is in favor of a 2024 run, while 93% of Democrats and 63% of independents oppose it.
Big Number
45%. That is the favorability rating for President Joe Biden among multiple candidates who may run in 2024, the poll found. Despite the number being below a majority, Biden’s favorability easily surpasses Trump’s at 34%, former Vice President Mike Pence’s at 33% and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ at 31%.
Key Background
Trump is currently the subject of at least four major investigations, including the hush money probe he was indicted in. The Manhattan DA’s investigation is focused on alleged hush money payments made by a former Trump aide to adult film star Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 elections. Daniels claims to have had an affair with Trump, an allegation the former president strongly denies. Prosecutors in Georgia are investigating the Trump campaign’s alleged role in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential elections in the state. The former president also faces two federal investigations into Trump’s alleged role in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and his handling of classified documents that were retrieved from his personal residence in Mar-A-Lago last year. Trump has repeatedly suggested that the cases against him are politically motivated, while identifying himself as the “leading candidate” for the Republican nomination.
Further Reading
Trump’s legal issues have little impact on his support (AP-NORC)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2023/04/20/most-americans-think-trumps-indictment-was-both-justified-and-politically-motivated/