Despite being indicted on federal criminal charges that he claims are part of a “political persecution” by the Biden Justice Department, former President Donald Trump appears to be “Teflon Don” as new polls show Trump ahead of President Joe Biden by several percentage points.
The most recent survey by Harvard CAPS-Harris shows that Trump is at least six points ahead of Biden in a potential contest for the president in 2024. Overall, 45% of voters preferred the past president over the sitting one, while just 39% indicated they would re-elect Vice President Joe Biden.
Fifteen percent of respondents were undecided about the hypothetical matchup.
Two indictments against Trump don’t seem to have hurt his chances; if anything, the Republican firebrand’s detention at the hands of his major political rival’s DOJ has further solidified his popularity. According to NPR, 71% of Trump’s red base will stick with him even if he is found guilty.
When a New York grand jury charged Trump in March on state charges, it was the first time in American history that a sitting or former President had been prosecuted. His reelection campaign allegedly received nearly $4 million in the following days.
Many notable conservatives have spoken out against the indictments, saying they are just the latest illustration of the 45th president’s frequent theme of militarized police enforcement.
A hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels was linked to “intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime” in the March allegations. As Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz put it, “not a crime,” it drew widespread criticism for being too nebulous.
Trump was recently indicted on 37 criminal counts in a federal court in Miami, where he pled not guilty after being accused of mishandling classified National Defence Information papers.
A federal court ordered him on Monday to withhold discovery material until after his trial.
Regarding the Republican nomination, the Harvard survey suggests Trump will easily win the primary. Compared to his expected top competitor, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has fallen to 14% favorability among Republican voters, the former President’s edge is staggering.
Increasing numbers of Americans have learned not to trust most of the media and the justice system, a major reason for Trump’s continued high approval ratings.
