A majority of Americans believe that former President Donald Trump has at least some responsibility for the attack on the Capitol, and about half believe the Senate should declare him guilty at the impeachment trial that begins next week.
It is the latest indication that Trump’s months-long disinformation campaign could have a lasting impact on Biden and further complicate the arduous task of running a divided country.
Nearly two-thirds of those polled believe that Trump bears at least some responsibility for the events, which resulted in five deaths, including half who say they consider him a significant responsibility.
A third party claims Trump has no responsibility.
Most Republicans acquit Trump, but three in ten believe he has at least some responsibility.
A smaller number, 47 percent, believe the Senate should declare Trump guilty of impeachment beginning next week.
Another 40 percent believe he should be acquitted and 12 percent are insecure.
Second trial
Trump became the first president in the country’s history to be impeached twice by the House of Representatives last month, but it seems unlikely the Democrats will gather the necessary votes to find him guilty in the Senate.
The opinions gathered by the survey reflect the party’s preferences. Eight in ten Democrats think the senate should declare him guilty, compared to one in ten Republicans.
‘I think it’s ridiculous. Are we going to prosecute any ex-presidents we don’t like? ” wondered Bill Stokes, a 67-year-old Wyoming resident who voted Trump in November as the least bad choice.
While Stokes admitted that Trump “may” bear some responsibility for the January 6 attacks, he indicated that “I don’t think this warrants impeachment. Maybe a vote of no confidence, if at all.”
“I really don’t think he provoked a riot. He (Trump) asked them to go there for a peaceful protest. Maybe he didn’t understand the psychology of the masses, but I think his responsibility in that case … they try to give him more responsibility, which is really there, ”he said.
Other Republicans surveyed denounced Trump for inciting the crowd, and some think he should be held accountable in some way. But they don’t think impeachment is the answer, as Trump is no longer president, and they say he is unlikely to be reelected.
The survival of the idea of fraud
The poll found that many Republicans agree with the idea, championed by the Capitol robbers, that Biden’s election victory was illegal. Overall, 66 percent of Americans say Biden was legitimately elected, but 65 percent of Republicans deny it.
That group includes Dolores Mejía, 71, of Arizona, who claims that if he had counted all the votes, “I think Trump would have won, I really believe that.”
I don’t care what the Democrats say. They stole the election. There’s just no way, with the amount of support we’ve seen, watching the rallies on TV, stuff like Truckers for Trump, I can’t They will steal the election, ” said Mejía, a lifelong Democrat who switched sides in November to vote for Trump.
Others were more ambivalent. Mark Richardson, a 39-year-old Republican from North Carolina who voted twice for Trump, said he understood postal voting was allowed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but argued they should not be allowed again.
“It opens up too much room for questions,” Richardson said, adding that the issue of legitimacy is ambiguous.
‘It depends on how you ask the question. Do I think every vote he got is legit? No. But do I think he is the legitimate president? Yes. Joe Biden is the president. And I’m fine with that, ”he said.
Republican leaders in several key states where Biden prevailed, including Arizona and Georgia, have said the election went smoothly. Trump’s complaints were dismissed by the courts, including justices appointed by Trump and his former Attorney General William Barr.
Negative image
Overall, the survey shows that Americans have a more negative than positive view of the Trump administration and its impact on the country, but criticism among Republicans is limited.
Only 36 percent of the total respondents think Trump is a good or even great president, while 50 percent think he was bad or terrible.
When Barack Obama came out of power in 2016, 52 percent of Americans viewed him as a good or great president, while 28 percent viewed him as bad or terrible.
While the majority of Republicans surveyed say Trump was a good or great president, 15 percent believe he was an average president and 11 percent consider him bad or awful.
Opinions are more diverse on how the Trump administration has directly impacted Americans’ lives. Most said they were in a better personal position than when Trump became president, by a margin of 38 percent to 27 percent.
