How will former President Donald Trump's conviction on 34 counts of business fraud impact the election?
Trump’s campaign announced Friday that it raised almost $53 million in the 24 hours following his felony conviction.
“The real verdict is going to be November 5th, by the people,” Trump declared as he left the Manhattan courthouse, vowing to fight through the election: “This is long from over.”
For some voices on the left, Trump's conviction was a long-awaited and well-deserved comeuppance, while some right-rated voices viewed the trial and verdict as a political stunt indicative of a corrupt justice system.
A writer for MSNBC (Left bias) argued that Trump’s “blatant, multiple lies” about the hush money case are the “most problematic” element of his “post-verdict revenge.” The writer said these lies included “his post-verdict portrayal of himself as a ‘political prisoner,’” as well as “his claim that he didn’t know what the charges were.” The writer concluded that “Michael Cohen’s guilty pleas and American Media’s non-prosecution agreement were appropriately considered by the jury,” and Trump cannot “claim that the judge has made it impossible to talk about the case” when he “literally cannot stop talking about the case” himself.
A writer for the New York Post Opinion (Right bias) argued that left-leaning media outlets are ignoring facts about the trial in favor of pushing an anti-Trump narrative: “Trump is appealing the verdict, is still running for president and has a very good chance of winning. But straight-forward facts don’t have a chance in hell when the Gray Lady’s got a narrative to spin and a political agenda to push.” The writer also referred to the New York Times’ coverage of the case as “dressed-up fear mongering.”
Trump’s criminal conviction appears to be shifting voter opinions, according to recent polls. While some Republicans are even more supportive, a notable fraction of independent and Republican voters reported they are less likely to vote for Trump in light of his conviction.
A writer for the Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) argued that since “we already know Trump doesn’t take fines seriously,” the Democratic Party should put him in jail solely for recording payments “to lawyer Michael Cohen as legal expenses and not as reimbursements for a loan” in order to ensure Trump stays out of the White House. The writer also argued that the only victim of Trump’s crimes “is the public,” who knew he cheated on his wife “long before the trial began or the charges were even dropped,” and concluded that the only way to keep Trump from defeating President Joe Biden is with “interference from politically motivated prosecutors and judges.”
The Bloomberg Editorial Board (Lean Left bias) argued that “the Republican presidential candidate” being “nominated from Rikers Island” does not bode well for either the Republican or Democratic parties: “Whatever one’s view of this verdict, these are incredibly grim signs for American politics.” The board also argued that “apart from all the crimes,” Trump remains unfit for office due to the “appalling sleaze rehashed in this trial alone.”
More from AllSides
- From the Center: "This is a troubling but historic moment: our leading candidate for president stands as a convicted felon. On this we can all agree. What we disagree on is why this moment is so troubling."
- From the Center: "The Biden campaign’s task is now to convince voters that preventing a convicted felon from becoming president is worth their time and effort."
- Misinformation Watch: The Daily Mail published an article with a headline stating that Dr. Anthony Fauci “confessed” to “making up” COVID-19 social distancing rules. Is this true?
- 2024 Voter Guides: Here's where the presidential candidates stand on immigration, abortion, healthcare, gun control, education, foreign policy, infrastructure, and economic issues.
More from the Right
Does Donald Trump's Conviction in New York Make Us Banana Republicans?
Reason (opinion)
"The United States doesn't fully meet the definition of a banana republic—we don't have an economy dependent on resources, like bananas. But in terms of unstable politics in which government officials misuse powers and the courts to punish foes, the U.S. resembles that term more every day. The concluded hush-money trial of former (future?) President Donald Trump is a case in point."
More from the Center
Donald Trump's Conviction Was Expected to Sink Him in the Polls. It Hasn't
Newsweek
"The latest I&I/TIPP survey was conducted between May 29 and May 31, with the polling group suggesting that a 'significant share' of the 1,675 registered voters who took part in the survey would be aware that Trump had been found guilty of 34 felony counts. The poll also revealed that independents still heavily favor Trump over Biden (38 percent to 26 percent). Support from that demographic may prove vital for the outcome of several key swing states that could determine the winner."
More from the Left
Trump conviction heralds a somber and volatile moment in American history
CNN (analysis)
"But Trump’s tactics and his capacity to shape the views of his supporters — with the aid of the conservative media machine — will inevitably mean that the legal system will join the electoral system as another essential institution of American governance that is now viewed as illegitimate by millions of citizens."
See more big stories from the past week.
