A report that Trump paid off a porn star a month before the 2016 election is straw that will break the Republican Party’s back in the midterm election.
The Wall Street Journal reported, “A lawyer for President Donald Trump arranged a $130,000 payment to a former adult-film star a month before the 2016 election as part of an agreement that precluded her from publicly discussing an alleged sexual encounter with Mr. Trump, according to people familiar with the matter.”
Every Republican on the ballot was already going to be asked about Donald Trump’s “shithole countries” comment, but now they are also going to be asked about Trump paying hush money to an adult film star.
Those who wonder if this will hurt Trump with his base are looking at the story from the wrong perspective. Trump’s base is never going to leave him. Those 35% of voters are locked in.
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
The problem for Republican candidates is with the other 65% of voters who disapprove of Trump. Republicans still need to win 15%-20% of those voters to win their campaigns. Trump’s base is going to scream “fake news” in response to the story. The issue for anyone on the ballot with an (R) beside their name is that the story of Trump’s hush money to the adult film actress is going to make it even more difficult for those people to get the votes that they need to have to win.
Instead of Democrats winning 30 House seats, because of Trump, they could win 40.
Each Trump scandal has a cumulative impact. Voters who were already disapproving of Trump become committed to seeing his party run out of Congress in November. Nothing will move Trump’s base away from him, but each new revelation adds steam and power to the blue tidal wave that is coming to clean up Trump’s Washington on Election Day.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
