The latest PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll reveals insights into public perceptions of the investigations surrounding former President Donald Trump, particularly despite his hush money trial.
While a majority of Americans, 54 percent, believe that these investigations are fair and necessary to determine if Trump has broken the law, a sizable portion, 45 percent, view them as unfair and aimed at obstructing his 2024 presidential campaign.
Trump’s first — and maybe only — trial (Credits: PBS)
The poll, conducted during the trial’s initial week of testimony, coincided with the Supreme Court’s deliberations on Trump’s claim of prosecutorial immunity. It indicates that 47 percent of Americans believe Trump has committed illegal acts, with a remarkable majority of Democrats (86 percent) and a portion of independents (42 percent) holding this view.
Another 30 percent believe Trump has acted unethically but not illegally, while 21 percent perceive him as having done nothing wrong.
Republicans, on the other hand, are divided in their opinions, with 46 percent believing Trump has acted unethically and 45 percent asserting that he has done nothing illegal. This divergence in perception reflects the partisan divide surrounding Trump’s legal troubles.
Donald Trump (Credits: Biography (Bio.))
Despite the importance of these investigations, a majority of Americans (55 percent) report not closely following Trump’s hush money case. Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report suggests that Republican leaders’ continued support for Trump signals to voters that his legal challenges are not serious.
Sarah Longwell, a Republican strategist, highlights the overwhelming number of legal cases against Trump, which can be daunting for the public to track comprehensively.
The poll underscores the complexity of public opinion regarding Trump’s legal issues and the influence of partisan allegiances on perceptions of his conduct and the investigations surrounding it.
