In a recent CBS News/YouGov poll released on Sunday, former President Donald Trump’s supporters have revealed an unwavering trust in him as their primary source of information, even over their own family, friends, and religious leaders.
Previous polling has consistently shown Trump enjoying a substantial lead over his Republican contenders in the race for the 2024 presidential nominee. However, a significant twist emerged last week when a grand jury in Fulton County, Georgia, charged the former president with 13 counts related to alleged attempts to subvert the 2020 presidential election’s outcome in the state—a charge he vehemently denies.
Donald Trump = Truth?
Simultaneously, Donald Trump is already facing legal proceedings in connection with a series of indictments, including accusations of orchestrating hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign, mishandling classified documents post-presidency, and employing unlawful tactics to overturn the 2020 election, notably during the storming of the U.S. Capitol by some of his supporters on January 6, 2021, to thwart the certification of the Electoral College results.
The CBS News/YouGov survey delved into who Trump voters believe to be their most trustworthy information source. Trump emerged as the dominant choice, garnering 71 percent of the vote, while family and friends secured 63 percent, conservative media figures earned 56 percent, and religious leaders received 42 percent.
Conducted from August 16-18, the poll surveyed 2,061 U.S. adult residents, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3 points for the overall sample.
Additionally, the poll revealed that the former president now holds his largest lead yet over Florida Governor and 2024 Republican candidate Ron DeSantis, with Trump commanding 62 percent of the vote in a hypothetical GOP primary, compared to DeSantis’s 16 percent.
Voters ‘Locked In’
Political analyst and Dillard University professor Robert Collins weighed in on the poll’s significance, telling Newsweek magazine, “The poll demonstrates the extent to which voters are locked in, and their minds are already made up.” He added, “The opinions of the Republican base about Trump were set in stone a long time ago, so they’re going to dismiss any negative information about him, even if that information comes from family members or friends.
“In the eyes of the Republican base, the indictments are turning Trump into a martyr. He has managed to convince his base that the indictments against him are really attacks on them and their beliefs. As a result, they are going to trust him as their primary source of information above all others.”
We’ll Stand By You
The poll also highlighted that Trump’s ongoing legal challenges serve as yet another reason for his supporters to stand by him.
CBS elections analyst Kabir Khanna expressed his views on Trump’s popularity via Twitter, writing: “As with federal charges, R voters’ main concern is that Georgia indictment is politically motivated If they agree Trump tried to stay in power post-election, it was done via legal/constitutional processes (most say Biden win wasn’t legit after all).
“It could also be strategic: R voters think Trump has [the] best shot to beat Biden — in fact, many think he already did. And then, [a] large majority would want [a] nominee similar to Trump, if it were not him. They’re just sticking with the original for now.”
Whatever happens in the coming weeks and months, it is unlikely that Donald Trump supporters will be quick to abandon their preferred candidate.
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
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