‘It’s a hoax’: New prices can not shake Trump supporters’ loyalty

On the Newport Beach boardwalk, Dane Lee strums his guitar, accumulating {dollars} in a case.

He’s sporting board shorts and a trucker hat emblazoned with Trump 2020. Almost three years, one state and two federal indictments later, his loyalties have not shifted. He continues to be singing from the acquainted Donald Trump hymn sheet.

“Well it’s a hoax,” he says, once I ask about allegations that Trump subverted the need of the American individuals in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

“They’re trying to use what’s called lawfare. They’re trying to find anything they can dig into,” Dane says. “But you see, Joe Biden and Hunter Biden, they’re much, much worse and they don’t do anything about them.”

Deflecting consideration to the authorized travails of the president’s second son is a standard chorus of the Trump devoted and also you hear it loads round right here.

Newport Beach is a Republican stronghold within the deep blue state of California. In 2020 it was resolutely Trump. In the Back Bay district of the town, 11 out of each 12 votes forged have been for the outgoing president.

It’s additionally a dependable supply of marketing campaign donations for Trump. Many mega-rich residents of this coastal enclave imagine he’s the person to maintain their wallets bulging.

Joe Gleason takes a break from biking his seaside cruiser to deal with the newest prison prices for Trump.

“I’m prepared to say, without knowing the details on this latest one, that it’s an outrage,” he says.

“We have an elite in this country that is totally opposed to the Trump presidency and certainly to the Trump presidency recurring. They are engaging in heretofore unprecedented measures that ought to scare every American to death in order to make sure that Donald Trump doesn’t go back to the Oval Office.”

With each prison case, the roots of Trump’s assist develop deeper, extra entrenched of their views. The earlier two indictments have executed nothing to have an effect on his reputation amongst Republican voters and even prompted a surge in marketing campaign donations.

It’s an image mirrored within the polls. In the race for the Republican nomination, Donald Trump is now 37 proportion factors away from his closest rival Ron DeSantis. Nikki Hayley and Tim Scott path even additional behind.

Nobody has ever had a lead like this and never been the nominee. But nor have they been 3 times a prison defendant.

Read extra: Of all the fees Donald Trump is dealing with, these are probably the most severe

Another looming courtroom case highlights simply how polarising politics on this nation and Donald Trump himself is.

“He’s a crook,” says Joann Preston. “He’s dishonest to his wife and his family and his country. That’s what I think. His supporters just close their eyes and shut their ears to what they don’t want to see and hear.”

Eduardo Malamut, on vacation from Iowa with spouse Julia, agrees. “I think what’s very depressing is it doesn’t seem to make any difference.

“The individuals who assist him will assist him it doesn’t matter what occurs. It definitely doesn’t have an effect on the Republican primaries, he will win. I feel the General Election is a toss up.”

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Polls for a hypothetical basic election counsel Donald Trump and Joe Biden are at present neck and neck with voters.

But there’s a number of floor to be coated earlier than then, and many to come back out within the wash.