Majority of Americans Believe Trump Attempted Illegal Measures to Stay in Power
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A recent CBS News/YouGov survey has revealed that most Americans believe former President Donald Trump made an illegal attempt to hold onto power after the 2020 election. The survey, reported by The Hill, found that 51% of Americans think Trump used “illegal and unconstitutional” measures to try to secure a second term in office.
The poll results also showed that 29% of respondents believe Trump attempted to remain in power through legal means, while 20% disagreed with both views. The survey was conducted following Trump’s indictment on four federal counts related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
Additionally, 54% of those surveyed expressed the view that Trump’s actions posed a threat to democracy, with 28% feeling neutral and 17% suggesting that his actions were in support of democracy. Interestingly, the survey highlighted a division in public opinion regarding the motives behind the indictments and investigations into Trump.
While 59% of Americans believe these legal actions are attempts to hinder his 2024 presidential bid, 57% view them as efforts to uphold the law, and 52% see them as essential to safeguarding democracy. Among Republicans, over one-third thought the investigations were personal attacks, with 56% of GOP respondents agreeing with Trump’s claim that these actions targeted people like them.
This sentiment was particularly strong among MAGA Republicans, with 77% agreeing that the investigations were an attack on them. The survey also underscored a significant partisan divide, with 86% of Republicans believing the investigations are aimed at blocking Trump’s 2024 campaign, compared to only 31% of Democrats. Conversely, Democrats were more likely to see the investigations and indictments as efforts to protect democracy and uphold the rule of law.
New York Magazine columnist Ed Kilgore has expressed concern over the apparent indifference toward the January 6 events, warning that this apathy poses a significant threat to American democracy. Kilgore argues that viewing Trump’s actions as just another red flag, rather than a direct assault on democracy, could pave the way for authoritarianism, especially if Republicans win in the next election.
Similarly, Robert Reich, writing for The Guardian, cautioned that Trump’s portrayal of the criminal justice system as politicized and corrupt erodes public confidence in the judiciary. Reich argues that Trump’s narrative of being the victim of a political vendetta could have dangerous implications for the integrity of the justice system and democracy as a whole.
