A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll has revealed a stark division in American public opinion regarding former President Donald Trump's recent guilty verdict. The poll, conducted in the wake of Trump being convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents, indicates that half of Americans believe the verdict was correct and almost as many think he should end his 2024 presidential campaign.
The survey, published on Sunday, showed that 50 percent of respondents agreed with the New York jury's decision, while 49 percent felt that Trump should withdraw from the presidential race. Despite this significant legal setback, Trump's favorability rating remained unchanged at 31 percent, mirroring his standing before the conviction.
The charges against Trump stem from hush money payments made just before the 2016 presidential election to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, intended to silence allegations of an affair. Trump's legal team has already announced plans to appeal the conviction, with Trump himself asserting that the case is a politically motivated attack orchestrated by "bad people."
Public opinion on the matter remains deeply divided along partisan lines. According to the poll, a striking 83 percent of Democrats believe the guilty verdict was justified, while a mere 18 percent of Republicans concur. Among independent voters, who are often pivotal in national elections, 52 percent agreed with the verdict.
In addition to the guilty verdict, the poll explored opinions on whether the charges against Trump were politically motivated. Forty-seven percent of respondents felt that the charges were driven by political agendas, while 38 percent disagreed. Notably, 51 percent of those surveyed believe that Trump intentionally engaged in illegal activities related to the case, with an additional 12 percent thinking he acted wrongly but without intent.
The implications of this poll are significant for the upcoming presidential election, especially given that both Trump and President Joe Biden currently hold low favorability ratings. Biden's approval stands at 32 percent, nearly identical to Trump's, suggesting a contentious and polarized electoral landscape ahead.
The division in public sentiment was particularly pronounced among those who dislike both candidates, often referred to as "double-haters." Among this group, 65 percent believe the verdict was correct, and 67 percent think Trump should end his campaign. This demographic could play a crucial role in the election, potentially swaying the outcome.
Trump's response to the verdict has been one of defiance, continuing to attack the judicial process and those involved. He has directed sharp criticism at the district attorney, the judge, and the jury, claiming they are biased against him. At a press conference at Trump Tower in Manhattan, Trump reiterated his belief that the prosecution was politically motivated and warned that "if they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone."
President Biden, countering Trump's narrative, emphasized the importance of the rule of law. In remarks made on Friday, Biden stated that the legal process had reaffirmed the rule of law and cautioned against statements that undermine its legitimacy, calling such assertions "dangerous."
The ABC News/Ipsos poll, conducted from May 31 to June 1, 2024, included a random national sample of 781 U.S. adults. The results have a margin of sampling error of 3.7 points, with partisan divisions among respondents recorded as 31 percent Democrats, 29 percent Republicans, and 32 percent independents.
