Could someone please explain why support for a twice-impeached ex-president recently indicted on 34 felony counts is increasing? I am perplexed. Is Trump really a stronger candidate than he was before losing the 2020 election? And why don’t Trump supporters react to evidence that Trump planned and led the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol?
Many years ago, a client of my law firm with whom I was friendly was indicted and later convicted of defrauding the federal government of millions of dollars. I was shocked at the news, disbelieving it until details were revealed at the trial. When the time for sentencing came, the friend asked me to write to the judge to ask for leniency. I refused. I agreed with the conviction. I was not comfortable with condoning fraud.
I also do not condone insurrection, tax and business fraud, misappropriation of government documents, obstruction of justice, “hush money” payments to sex workers, and sexual assault. Those are only some of the reasons why I want Trump out of politics. The allegations are also the reason Trump’s continuing support among his base is a mystery to me.
The videos of Trump’s supporters smashing windows in the Capitol and using flagpoles as spears against Capitol Police are repugnant but apparently fail to convince most of Trump’s “base” that his involvement in the crime disqualifies him for public office. Still, what about evidence that Trump sexually assaulted—raped—E. Jean Carroll in a changing room at the Bergdorf Goodman department store in New York many years ago? Ms. Carroll says Trump followed her into a changing room and assaulted her.
A court in New York is expected to find that Trump more likely than not raped Ms. Carroll and award her damages in the civil case. (The statute of limitations precludes a criminal action being brought against Trump.) Mr. Trump, as usual, denies the allegations and has suggested Ms. Carroll is a politically motivated, publicity-seeking liar hoping to profit from the case.
Rape–even an allegation of rape—should be enough to convince people that the accused is a problem. In the case of Trump, not only have 17 other women accused him of sexual assault, but Trump bragged about committing sexual assault on tape (the infamous 2005 Billy Bush tape released shortly before Trump’s 2016 election). And what about the disgusting stories of Trump walking into changing rooms at the Miss America pageant, which he owned at the time, so he could see contestants in various stages of undress?
Trump’s sexual history is disgusting. So why haven’t the sordid details of the E. Jean Carroll rape shocked his followers? That is what I want to know.
Trump will go down in history as a liar. He is likely to be convicted for felonies that involve lies. He is the author of the “Big Lie” that he won the 2020 presidential election, and he has lied about thousands of other things ranging from how wealthy he is to how many people attended his 2017 inauguration, to how he escaped service during the Vietnam war. My question is why anyone would believe Trump when he suggests that Ms. Carroll is lying about getting raped?
Given that the details of the Trump rape case are now out, it appears unlikely that even a loss in the case resulting in a multi-million dollar payment to Ms. Carroll will cost Trump political support. That is tragic.
I remain hopeful that a combination of Trump’s other problems will persuade him to drop out of the 2024 presidential race before the Republican convention next year. (Both Craig Fuller and Al From predicted Trump will not be the party’s 2024 nominee in The Spy’s From and Fuller video posted in the April 27 edition.) Among Trump’s “other problems” are the virtual certainty of indictment for election interference in Georgia and a multi-count indictment in Washington for crimes associated with January 6, 2021, and related efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Let us hope From and Fuller are right.
Until 76-year-old Trump retires from politics, I will continue to try to understand the psychology of his followers. Political science will benefit from a detailed study of the rise and fall of Donald Trump. I do not want to author that book, but I will read it.
Trump is a mistake that America cannot afford to repeat. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, and other subjects.
Deirdre LaMotte says
If this isn’t a grim snapshot of our national mental illness, then I don’t know what is.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece and for your comment. I had not thought about “national mental illness.” You may have a point.
Den Leventhal says
Oy! Your assessment is right on target! That seditious sociopath is disgusting and despicable. And, oh yes, don’t forget Helsinki …
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece. You are right–Helsinki is one of the most disturbing chapters in the Trump saga. Thanks for reminding me of it.
Chris Gordon says
Mr. Dean, I will take a stab at answering your question about the inexplicable continuing support for Trump among his followers. I suspect that most of them feel that life has treated them unfairly. Sometimes that feeling is justified, sometimes imaginary. They see Trump as their hero who will overcome his enemies and strike back at their oppressors. The more troubles he faces, the greater their support.
Those of us who have been treated fairly, or more than fairly, by life and circumstances find it difficult to understand the pro-Trump mindset. If there is to be a way out of this deep division it must be to make everyone, or as many as possible, feel hopeful about their future prospects, to believe that their destiny is in their own hands.
John Dean says
Thank you for your thoughtful comment. It makes sense.
James Nick says
“So why haven’t the sordid details of the E. Jean Carroll rape shocked his followers? That is what I want to know.”
From… https://www.salon.com/2023/05/03/fatigue-kicks-in-early-polling-shows-growing-exhaustion-ahead-of-2024/
… regarding the rape trial that’s currently unfolding in New York, “this year CNN mentioned Carroll more than 230 times and MSNBC more than 440. Fox News has mentioned her seven times.”…
…This pattern holds for all the Trump legal scandals. It’s no wonder that Republican voters don’t care about them. If they’re aware of them at all they think they aren’t serious or dangerous to Donald Trump.
…according to a new CBS/YouGov poll… 94% of those [Republicans] declared for Trump are voting for him because of his performance as president. 94% believe he “fights” for people like them and 82% love the way he deals with his political opponents. 65% believe that a good reason to vote for him is as a way to show support for his legal troubles which explains why they could not care less that he’s credibly accused of numerous crimes. It’s clear at this point that Trump’s trope that he could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and not lose any votes is literally true.
John Dean says
Thanks for sharing the Salon article. I had not seen it (and have yet to read it). I appreciate you raising it.
Bob Moores says
For the last seven years I have been trying to figure out the same thing: From whence cometh Trump’s appeal? My conclusions are not encouraging. They say more about a large block of my fellow Americans than the man they support.
Trump appeals to our worst human instincts – racism, fear and suspicion of “the other”, and “them vs us” tribalism. To many, he appears to be a strongman, a maverick, a non-conformist, not part of the D.C. crowd that we find so frustratingly inept.
Though he claims to be an outsider, he is one of the most effective politicians I have ever seen. By that I mean that he tells people what they want to hear. He understands the symbols and visual images people like (hug the flag, wave the Bible) and remember.
“Listen to me and everything will be okay.”
“Covid will be over by Easter. It will disappear like a miracle.”
“My calls to Zelensky and Raffensperger were perfect calls.”
“Elect me and I’ll end the Ukraine war in 24 hours.”
“I’ll lower your taxes and never take your guns away.”
Evangelicals, why do you like Trump? Do you ever read the Bible? I don’t understand how you can support such a misogynistic, immoral person who by most behaviors advocated by Jesus, acts in opposition.
How many Americans died as a result of his intentional downplaying of the seriousness of Covid? The time to take an exponentially increasing problem seriously is at its start, not after it has become widespread. One could make a case that at least a quarter of Americans Covid deaths can be laid at his doorstep.
Is Trump better for our economy? When he took office our national debt was $20 trillion. Four years later it was $27 trillion, and increase of 35%. Biden has increased our debt to $31.7 trillion in two and a third years, an increase of 17.4%. Neither is good, but at least Biden is not as bad as Trump.
Is this Putin/Kim lover a man we want for president again?
John Dean says
Bob: Great comment. Thanks for adding to the discussion.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Good question. No, they want to “own the Libs”, whatever that means. It like M ‘n Ms “melt in your mouth not in your hands”. A slogan these people take as God. Do not over think Trump. It’s not rocket
science, it’s human frailty. He says what they think. Period. He is cunning and reaches out to people he would never dane to acknowledge. Ever. Fascist comments? Check. Sexist comments? Check. Autocratic I-am -your-Jesus? check. These people eat this up because they don’t have to think and he says all the things that are abhorrent, but WTH? “Who cares, someone hears me, I’m a loser or whatever, and this rich man
who has a gold bathroom understands me” .
Seriously. This is pitiful but reflects our societal disaster.
John Dean says
Great comment.
Thanks for reading the piece. Very good summary of Trump’s record.
Paula Reeder says
So True! Thank you for calling it like it is.