Alyssa Farrar Griffin, a former Trump administration aide, dismissed claims by Trump’s supporters that his legal problems could actually help him win the November election.
Trump is scheduled to go on trial next month on charges that he illegally concealed hush money payments during the 2016 presidential campaign, the first of four criminal trials against him.
Griffin, now a co-host on ABC’s “The View,” on Tuesday called the idea that the trial would boost Trump’s popularity “complete madness.”
“There’s a myth out there that an ordeal like this will somehow hurt him, that it’s going to win him more voters, it’s going to generate sympathy,” she said on the show. “As a Republican, I reject his opinion because his base is with him and they are vociferously defending him.”
“But for the 30 percent who call themselves Nikki Haley voters or ‘anyone but Trump’ Republicans, the hush money payments to Stormy Daniels and this latest fraud scandal in New York make them more sympathetic.” There’s no way he could have,” she continued. “I think that’s pure insanity.”
Trump himself said the upcoming trial could make him even more popular “because people know this is a fraud.”
Trump’s former aide Steve Bannon echoed similar sentiments on Monday, calling the lawsuit a political attack, which he called “law,” and a free press that only helps Trump. he claimed.
“One of the reasons President Trump is back and leading is because half of his campaign is in these courts,” he said. “The world’s media has to cover him.”
“The law is not working,” he added. “This is a major part of Mr. Trump’s campaign.”
A hush money trial is scheduled for April 15, a judge announced Monday. Trump has said he is willing to testify in the case, but it is unclear whether his defense team will support his testimony.
“I have no problem testifying,” President Trump said Monday. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
The former president, who is considered to be the Republican nominee for the White House, is tied with President Biden in general election polls, and Biden has achieved a small victory over Trump in recent weeks.
Nationally, Mr. Trump leads Mr. Biden by 1 point, according to Hill/Decision Desk Headquarters polling average.
Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
