The 1/6 Committee Has Laid Waste To Trump As Nearly 80% Think His Actions Were Illegal Or Unethical

According to a new poll, 79% of Americans believe that Donald Trump’s actions on 1/6 were illegal or unethical. Just 21% think that he did nothing wrong.

A new CNN Poll found:

At the same time, a public consensus has emerged that former President Donald Trump acted at least unethically in trying to hold on to his office after the 2020 election (79% feel he acted either unethically or illegally, including 45% who believe his actions were illegal), that he encouraged political violence in his public statements ahead of January 6 (61%) and that he could have done more to stop the attack once it had begun (77%).

All told, the poll finds that 69% of Americans consider the January 6 attack to be a crisis or major problem for American democracy. That’s up slightly since earlier this year, when 65% said the same. More broadly, 54% say they see American democracy as under attack, about the same as the 52% who felt that way earlier this year.

To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.

Each of these numbers is awful for Trump. As the hearings continue, it will be important to monitor whether the number of people who think that Trump committed a crime rises above 50%. Trump is dangerously close to that number at the current 45%. If a majority of the country starts to believe that Trump committed a crime, it will be another sign that he is unelectable.

Trump’s big DC comeback speech was an unhinged disaster that helped Democrats mobilize voters against Trump and the Republican Party.

Donald Trump and the Republican Party can try to pretend like the 1/6 attack is not an issue, but to most Americans, the attack on democracy is important.

The 1/6 Committee’s effectiveness can’t be doubted, as Trump’s supporters who believe he did nothing wrong have fallen to 21%.

Donald Trump has finally met an investigation that he can’t talk his way out of.

Jason Easley

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