According to a recent AP-NORC poll, only one in three US adults believe that former President Donald Trump acted illegally in the hush money case in New York. The poll revealed a sharp partisan divide, with Democrats much more likely to believe Trump acted illegally than Republicans. This divide reflects the ongoing political polarization in the United States, with opinions on Trump’s actions largely falling along party lines.
The hush money case in question revolves around payments that were made to two women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump before he became president. The payments were made by Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, and have been the subject of legal scrutiny. While some legal experts believe the payments could constitute a violation of campaign finance laws, others argue that the issue is more of a moral or ethical concern than a legal one.
The poll also found that a majority of Americans believe that Trump was not honest about his involvement in the hush money case. Six in ten adults surveyed said they do not believe that Trump was truthful about the payments. Again, there was a significant partisan divide on this issue, with Democrats much more likely to believe that Trump was dishonest than Republicans.
Despite the lack of consensus on whether Trump acted illegally in the hush money case, a majority of Americans believe that he should still be held accountable for his actions. Sixty-one percent of adults surveyed said that Trump should face legal consequences for the payments, while only 39 percent said that he should not. This finding indicates that while there may be disagreement on the legality of Trump’s actions, there is a general consensus that he should be held accountable for any wrongdoing.
The poll also asked respondents about their overall opinions of Trump, finding that 45 percent of Americans have a favorable view of the former president. This represents a slight increase from similar polls conducted earlier in Trump’s presidency. However, a majority of Americans still have an unfavorable view of Trump, suggesting that public opinion of him remains divided.
Overall, the poll highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding Trump and the hush money case, as well as the deep partisan divide in American politics. While opinions on Trump’s actions vary, there is a general consensus that he should be held accountable for any wrongdoing. The findings of the poll also underscore the challenges of addressing ethical and legal issues in a polarized political climate.
