Last week, former President Trump announced he had been indicted by Special Counsel Jack Smith on federal charges related to his handling of classified documents. Many analysts, including Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz, said it was politically driven and all part of the left's efforts to "get Trump." But what do Americans think about the second indictment of the 45th president?
According to a recent ABC/Ipsos poll, Americans are split on the indictment. A survey conducted on Friday and Saturday among a random national sample of 910 U.S. adults showed 48 percent of Americans believe Trump should have been charged, while 35 percent said he shouldn't have been, and 17 percent were unsure. Among independents, 45 percent said he should have been charged, while 33 percent said he shouldn't have been.
Forty-six percent said given the legal situation the former president finds himself in, he should suspend his presidential bid, but 38 percent disagreed and said he should not. Sixteen percent were not sure. Forty-four percent of independents, meanwhile, said he should end his 2024 campaign, and 37 percent said he should not.
Regarding whether there was any political motivation to the indictment, 47 percent of respondents said there was, 37 percent did not think the charges were politically driven, and 16 percent were not sure.
Meanwhile, 61 percent of Americans believe the charges to be very or somewhat serious, while 28 percent did not think they were too serious or not serious at all.
Trump is in Miami, Florida, on Tuesday for his arraignment, where his supporters and Antifa are assembling outside the federal courthouse in what is being called a "recipe for tumult, if not worse."
