In its Trump coverage Monday on ABC’s Good Morning America, the crew — led by co-host and former Clinton official George Stephanopoulos – was both annoyed with the very basic reality of politics being a team sport and also enthused at two polls suggesting a possible sea change in the election thanks to a jury in far-left Manhattan finding former President Trump guilty on all 34 counts brought by Soros-funded D.A. Alvin Bragg.
Instead of reporting who said what over the weekend ABC had, political director Rick Klein explained a supposed change in polls for Biden.
Yeah, good morning George. Like so much else in politics, this – this is deeply dividing the American people. 50 percent of Americans in our poll with Ipsos say that they think this is the right verdict. Only 27 percent saying they don't think it's the correct verdict, the right outcome. And almost half of the country thinks that Trump should actually end his campaign, based on just this. And it’s more striking if you just look at those who dislike President Biden and former President Trump. The so-called “double haters" who could be so critical in this election. Among those voters 65 percent think is the right verdict. And 67 percent, two-thirds, think that he should actually end his campaign. Of course, that's not going to happen. But those are big, big numbers among this very critical constituency.
Unlike CBS & NBC in covering the story, Stephanopoulos seemed baffled at those who were still in support of the former President, especially, “despite his status as a convicted felon.”
It was no surprise that Donald Trump spoke out about Thursday’s verdict, yet the unification of many Republicans seemed to shock them. Politics, after all, is a team sport, and sticking with your side regardless of political scandal is something the left knows well. No amount of cheating scandals, sexual assault allegations, or an impeachment made the media leave the side of poor Bill Clinton. Why is it so upsetting then for Trump to be backed by his fellow Republicans?
After the hundreds of minutes of the Trump Trial Coverage, having any number of Republicans remain with Trump seems unacceptable to the liberal press.
The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read:
ABC’s Good Morning America
06/03/2023
08:05:31 AM ET[NEWS HEADLINE: New Fallout From Trump Conviction: Republicans Rally Around Defiant Former President After Historic Guilty Verdict]
GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: We're going to turn to the political fallout from the historic guilty verdict in Donald Trump's criminal trial. Top Republicans lined up to back the former President despite his status as a convicted felon, as Trump continued to lash out at the judge and key witness Michael Cohen. Rachel Scott is tracking Trump. Good morning, Rachel.
RACHEL SCOTT: Hey George, good morning to you too. Yes, former President Trump is spending his time between now and his sentencing attacking the key witness in the case, going after the judge that will ultimately decide his punishment. And now demanding that the U.S. Supreme Court intervene.
[Cuts to Video]
SCOTT: This morning, the Republican Party is rallying around Donald Trump after the former President was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records.
DONALD TRUMP: We're gonna show them that -- oh, we're gonna fight.
SCOTT: Trump defiant as he awaits sentencing saying he's okay with potentially being sentenced to house arrest or jail time.
TRUMP [on FNC's Fox & Friends Saturday, 06/01/24]: I'm okay with it. I saw one of my lawyers the other day on television saying, “Oh no you don't want to do that to the Pre-”, I said no, you don't beg for anything. It's the way it is.
SCOTT: The former President slamming the verdict as rigged, and going after the judge who will decide his fate, calling Judge Merchan a devil, even attacking the former fixer Michael Cohen, calling him a sleaze bag, a possible violation of the gag order still in place. The former President also struggled to say whether he would pursue revenge against his political enemies if re-elected, claiming “it's a tough question.”
TRUMP [on FNC's Fox & Friends Saturday, 06/01/24]: My revenge will be success. And I mean that. But it's awfully hard when you see what they've done.
SCOTT: President Biden slamming his rival and his GOP allies for attacking the justice system.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN [on 05/31/24]: It's reckless, it's dangerous, and it’s irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don’t like the verdict.
SCOTT: But Republicans are quickly coming to Trump's defense --
SEN. TIM SCOTT (R-SC) [on Fox News Sunday, 06/02/25]: This verdict has actually brought – unifying our party.
SEN. TOM COTTON (R-AR) [on NBC's Meet the Press, 06/02/24]: Donald Trump has said his so-called retribution will be a success.
SCOTT: -- as his lawyers now prepare to appeal.
WILL SCHARF [on ABC's This Week, 06/02/24]: We plan to vigorously defend President Trump's rights in the appellate courts all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
[Cuts to Live]
SCOTT: Trump also suggested there could be a “breaking point” for the public, depending on the outcome of his sentencing. This morning, Democrats are calling that “a dangerous appeal to political violence and a reminder sentencing is set for July 11th”. That’s just four days befores the Republican National Convention, where the former President will officially accept the nomination. George..
STEPHANOPOULOS: And it’s not the first time he’s had that kind of appeal to violence. Okay Rachel, thanks very much. Let's bring in our political director Rick Klein. We have some initial indications in a new poll.
[NEWS HEADLINE: Trump Conviction & the Presidential Race: New Polls Show What Voters Think of Historic Guilty Verdict]
RICK KLEIN: Yeah, good morning George. Like so much else in politics, this – this is deeply dividing the American people. 50% of Americans in our poll with Ipos say that they think this is the right verdict. Only 27% saying they don't think it's the correct verdict, the right outcome. And almost half of the country thinks that Trump should actually end his campaign, based on just this. And it’s more striking if you just look at those who dislike President Biden and former President Trump. The so-called “double haters" who could be so critical in this election. Among those voters 65% think is the right verdict. And 67%, two-thirds, think that he should actually end his campaign. Of course, that's not going to happen. But those are big, big numbers among this very critical constituency.
STEPHANOPOULOS: And those double haters are critical. So are independents.
KLAIN: Yeah and there's another poll out, just over the weekend, from Reuters, that looked at this – the actual political fallout. And get this. This is a big number. Among the independents, 26% say they are now less likely to vote for Trump. That is a big, big chunk of the critical voters and among Republicans it's a smaller number, 11% but still, if you think about it one in ten Republicans saying they are less likely to vote for Donald Trump. That is a big chunk of voters. And the kind of losses you really can't afford in an election that's likely going to be this close going to be this close, George
STEPHANOPOULOS: It's going be close. This is all going to happen in the margins.
KLEIN: Exactly
STEPHANOPOULOS: Rick Klein, thanks very much.
