Republicans Trust Trump More Than Official Election Results

For Christopher Pugh, the events surrounding the 2020 election marked a significant shift in his views toward government institutions.

The 38-year-old Republican from Gulfport, Mississippi, has always held a skeptical stance toward the government. However, as he absorbed Fox News coverage and social media commentary following the election, his skepticism intensified. He now firmly believes the false narrative that the 2020 election was stolen and finds comfort in the words of former President Donald Trump.

“I trust Donald Trump, not the government,” Pugh stated. “That’s it.”

According to a recent survey conducted by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USAFacts, while a majority of Americans maintain at least moderate trust in government-certifies election results, Republican voters increasingly lean toward trusting Trump and his campaign instead.

Concerns about misinformation also loom large as the November election approaches. Many voters express doubts about the factual basis of claims made by presidential candidates, including Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Despite a plethora of court challenges failing, recounts reaffirming Joe Biden’s victory, and claims of widespread fraud being dismissed by Trump’s own attorney general, Trump continues to assert the 2020 election was rigged against him. A 2023 poll revealed that most Republicans still doubt Biden’s legitimacy as president.

As Trump gears up for his third Republican candidacy, he suggests that losing again could only result from systematic cheating. This rhetoric was clear at a Las Vegas rally where Trump declared, “The only way they can beat us is to cheat.”

The AP-NORC survey highlights that a considerable portion of Trump supporters might place greater trust in his proclamations about the upcoming election results than in the official government certifications. Approximately two-thirds of Republican respondents indicated a moderate level of trust in Trump’s campaign for accurate information regarding the 2024 election results, contrasting with only half expressing similar trust in official certifications.

In stark contrast, around 90% of Democrats report at least moderate trust in government certifications, with a significant 82% also trusting Harris and her campaign’s claims.

Overall, about 70% of Americans trust government-certified election results to some degree. A majority also show confidence in both national and local TV news, as well as local and national newspapers, for accurate election outcome reporting.

Danielle Almeida, a Democrat from Briarcliff Manor, New York, shared her concerns about the significant portion of Americans who do not trust government-certified election results.

“In order to have a democracy, we have to trust the system and the results of our elections,” she emphasized.

While American voters generally trust official government channels over campaigns, they exhibit slightly higher trust in Harris and her campaign compared to Trump. Around half of participants expressed at least moderate trust in Harris, while only 40% felt the same about Trump.

The roots of distrust among some Republicans regarding election results trace back long before the 2020 election. Richard Baum, a conservative independent from Odessa, Texas, recalls his skepticism originating from the contested 2000 election, where “hanging chads” became a symbol of electoral discrepancies.

Baum expressed that his doubts regarding the government’s credibility have only intensified, stating he would feel more assured about election integrity if polling were limited to a single day, with measures like photo ID requirements placed at voting locations.

The survey shows higher skepticism surrounding Trump’s campaign messages compared to those of Harris. About 60% of Americans feel Trump’s messages are “rarely” or “never” grounded in fact, while 45% feel that way about Harris’ campaign communications.

Compounding matters is the overwhelming feeling among Americans that deciphering fact from fiction in candidate messages is increasingly challenging. Less than half find it easy to ascertain factual information nor do they feel confident about distinguishing the truth in candidates’ statements.

However, Americans report a greater comfort in obtaining logistical election information. Approximately 70% say it’s easy to learn how to register to vote, and about 60% feel the same regarding information about voting procedures.

Michele Martin, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, expressed her worries over misinformation, but noted that accessing clear voter information has become simpler.

“It’s online. It’s mailed to you. It’s not hard to find,” she remarked.

A significant 80% of Americans rate the spread of misinformation as a “major problem” when it comes to obtaining accurate information about the government, a statistic consistent with data from 2020.

Lisa Kuda, a Republican from Palm Harbor, Florida, shared her struggle in finding reliable information, stating that her primary news sources are social media and friends, expressing alienation from traditional media platforms.

For many seeking truth in the information landscape, the internet plays a pivotal role. When attempting to verify election news, 40% begin with an online search, while a smaller fraction checks cable news or social media first.

Meanwhile, Baum reveals his tendency to sidestep mainstream sources, believing they censor conservative views. He often turns to conservative networks and podcasts to verify information.

Contrasting his approach, Almeida focuses on Google searches, analyzing multiple sources to discern consensus. “Misinformation is a huge problem,” she noted. “You have to take time to do your research.”

Source: Associated Press