America does not believe Donald Trump when he talks about Russia and Russia investigations. That’s the takeaway of a new Washington Post/ABC News poll. Americans don’t trust Trump on whether Russia interfered in the elections or why he fired James Comey as FBI director, and they don’t believe he’s cooperating with the investigation.
Asked “How much do you trust what Trump says about possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and related issues,” 50 percent of the poll’s respondents said “not at all.” Another 22 percent said “just some.” Just 21 percent of people trusted him “a good amount” or “a great deal.” But … 50 percent trust him not at all.
When the question was “Just your best guess, do you think Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey in order to protect himself or for the good of the country,” 61 percent said Trump was protecting himself, with 27 percent saying it was for the good of the country. And “Do you think Trump is cooperating with investigations of possible Russian influence in the 2016 election, or is trying to interfere with those investigations?” More than half—56 percent—of people said Trump is trying to interfere.
Comey doesn’t exactly have the nation’s trust, either, with just 36 percent saying they trust him on Russian election interference a good amount or a great deal. Of course, before he lost Trump’s base, Comey lost the trust of many Democrats, so he’s getting it from both sides.
But whatever people think of Comey—now or after his Thursday testimony—Donald Trump has staggeringly low public trust on Russia and on his motivations in firing Comey and responding to the Russia investigations. He still has the trust of his hardcore base, but that’s about it. And that’s something congressional Republicans have to be thinking about.