Donald Trump’s ardent supporters say they ‘don’t care’ about his ‘frivolous’ blockbuster criminal porn star hush money trial that’s simply a ‘roadblock’ to his 2024 victory

As jury selection begins in Donald Trump’s criminal trial over the hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, the ex-president’s most ardent supporters have already made up their minds in the case before a single piece of evidence is presented.

Trump is the first former president in US history to ever be tried criminally.

He is charged with 34 felonies for falsifying company records to cover up the $130,000 payment to Daniels.

Trump has called the trial an “attack on America” and “political persecution,” and his supporters are closely echoing what he says.

“That’s a witch hunt, a total witch hunt,” said Stacey Hawthorne, 57, who waited in line for hours to see Trump speak at a rally in Schnecksville, Pa., on Saturday, his last political event before the trial began.

“I think it’s really crazy that the Democrats can get away with what they can get away with and then come after him,” said her friend Stephanie Colofa, 50.

Trump supporters lined up to await his arrival at a fundraiser on April 13, 2024

Trump has baselessly accused President Biden of supporting the trial. It was a common topic of conversation among his supporters.

Prosecutors allege the ex-president falsified business records to cover up the return of the Stormy Daniels payment ahead of the 2016 election to keep her quiet about a sexual encounter that took place in 2006.

Trump supporters were more focused on the hush money payment itself than on falsifying corporate records, and that didn’t bother them.

“I’m sure there isn’t a single politician alive who hasn’t paid someone a hush money to keep their mouths shut for something they didn’t want to do,” said Matthew Onuschak, 44.

“Whether or not Donald Trump paid hush money to anyone is of no interest to me. “I like his policies,” he added.

‘I don’t feel like it at all. That’s a thing from a long time ago,” said Janice Monroe, 69, of Germansville, PA.

If convicted, the maximum prison sentence for each charge is four years, but suspects are typically sentenced to much less. The hush money trial is the first of four criminal cases the ex-president faces that could come to trial this year.

But Trump supporters are not concerned about their candidate being criminally convicted or jailed.

“I think it’s just a roadblock and it’s frivolous stuff and I think it just burdens his base even more,” said Michael Mann, 61. “I don’t feel like he’s going to be convicted.”

“I think in the end, after all the appeals, President Trump will be found not guilty,” said 46-year-old Courtney Bracken.

Trump supporters wait to join his rally in Schnecksville, PA on Saturday. It was the ex-president’s last meeting before the hush money trial

Trump supporters saw him speak at his rally in Schnecksville. During the meeting, Trump criticized the trial, the judge and the prosecutor in the hush money case

While Trump’s most loyal supporters are not concerned about their candidate being behind bars, the majority of registered voters view the allegations as serious.

A New York Times/Siena poll found that 58 percent believe allegations of falsifying corporate records related to hush money payments are very or somewhat serious.

The court of public opinion is splitting along partisan lines. 66 percent of Republicans said the allegations are not too serious or not at all serious.

Registered voters are also already divided over whether they believe Trump is guilty in the case. 46 percent said he should be found guilty before trial, while 36 percent said this should not happen. Only 18 percent say they don’t know.

81 percent of Democrats and 40 percent of independents said he should be found guilty. 71 percent of Republicans and 35 percent of Independents said this should not happen.

Republican lawmakers and party leaders are seeing the Republican Party’s support for Trump as a sign to go all-in for the ex-president despite the criminal charges.

On Sunday, Trump critic Chris Sununu, governor of the New Hampshire GOP, said he would support Trump even if he were convicted in the New York case.

Sununu said he doesn’t think any American would feel comfortable seeing someone like president convicted of crimes. But he also said: ‘Right now it’s about elections. This is about politics.’