A new CNN poll found that more than half of all Americans approve of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s decision to indict former President Donald Trump — despite the fact that no one surveyed knew the contents of the still-sealed indictment when they answered questions about it.
CNN anchor Jake Tapper broke down some of the results of the poll, which was taken between March 31 and April 1. It showed that an overwhelming majority of Democrats (94%) were in favor of the indictment. A majority of independents (62%) also supported the move, followed by just 21% of Republicans. Overall, nearly two-thirds (60%) of those surveyed said that they supported the decision to indict Trump.
WATCH:
CNN Poll: Majority of Americans approve of Trump’s indictment @SaraMurray, @ashleyrallison, @seungminkim and @KevinMaddenDC discuss with @jaketapper pic.twitter.com/F70HUfYvAw
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) April 3, 2023
But as critics quickly began to point out, neither those asking the question nor those answering it had any idea what specific crimes the former president was actually being charged with.
Reports have indicated that Trump is expected to face nearly three dozen charges related to business fraud — but the official indictment was still under seal at the time the survey was conducted, days before Trump’s arraignment was scheduled to take place in Manhattan.
The Daily Caller’s Brianna Lyman tweeted, “CNN conducted a poll: 60% of Americans approve of Trump’s indictment. We don’t know what he’s charged with & yet 60% of Americans BLINDLY say they support this. Tells you all you need to know about these people: they don’t believe in justice, but in political persecution.”
CNN conducted a poll: 60% of Americans approve of Trump's indictment.
We don't know what he's charged with & yet 60% of Americans BLINDLY say they support this.
Tells you all you need to know about these people: they don't believe in justice, but in political persecution
— Brianna Lyman (@briannalyman2) April 4, 2023
Joshua Kraushaar added some context, laying out several other questions that people had been asked in the same poll. Trump’s favorability was measured at 34% — just a few points lower than Biden’s most recent number (38%) — and over half (52%) said that politics had played a “major role” in Bragg’s decision. Over three-fourths (76%) of those surveyed said that the move was at least somewhat political. And just over one-third (37%) thought that Trump’s alleged payments to Stormy Daniels were illegal at all.
New CNN poll, on Trump indictment:
Trump fav/unfav: 34/58%
Approve/disapprove of Trump indictment: 60/40%
But only 37% view Trump payments to Stormy Daniels as illegal
52% said politics played a "major role" in indictment (76% said politics played at least some role)
— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) April 3, 2023