Donald Trump’s supporters have called the indictment « catastrophic » and « another political witch hunt ».
Donald Trump’s indictment concerning the alleged Stormy Daniels hush money payment has led to an inevitable outcry among his most ardent supporters, who believe the matter is politically driven.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) called the move « unprecedented » and a « catastrophic escalation in the weaponization of the justice system » while Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) called the decision « another political witch hunt targeting the people’s President. »
While some of Trump’s allies were furious, the concern that the charges are politically motivated was said to extend further than his base of support.
The Claim
A tweet by Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) posted on March 30, 2023, viewed 716,000 times, stated: « A majority of Americans know Alvin Bragg’s witch hunt is a politically motivated prosecution. »
The Facts
Gaetz’s claim that a majority of Americans believe the case against Trump is politically motivated is supported by data, albeit with caveats.
His contention is supported by a recent Quinnipiac survey, published on March 29, 2023, which asked 1,788 U.S. adults whether they believe the case had a political motive.
It found more than six in 10 respondents (62 percent) thought the Manhattan District Attorney’s case was « mainly motivated by politics »; 32 percent said the case was « mainly motivated by the law ».
