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'I don't care if Trump paid off a porn star' | 'I don't care if Trump paid off a porn star' |
(about 11 hours later) | |
News that two former Trump advisers are facing prison time may have provoked a media firestorm in the nation's capital. But to the president's core supporters it's just a distraction from the good work he's doing. | News that two former Trump advisers are facing prison time may have provoked a media firestorm in the nation's capital. But to the president's core supporters it's just a distraction from the good work he's doing. |
"This is the sort of stuff that should be in People magazine," says James Montfort III, when I call him to ask what he makes of the legal turmoil surrounding Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen. | "This is the sort of stuff that should be in People magazine," says James Montfort III, when I call him to ask what he makes of the legal turmoil surrounding Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen. |
"It's more important to get North Korea to give up their nuclear arms, it's more important to make sure Mexico is playing fair on trade - than it is to worry about whether Donald Trump had consensual sex with someone years ago." | "It's more important to get North Korea to give up their nuclear arms, it's more important to make sure Mexico is playing fair on trade - than it is to worry about whether Donald Trump had consensual sex with someone years ago." |
Whether or not President Trump directed Mr Cohen, his former personal lawyer, to pay porn star Stormy Daniels "hush money" is irrelevant to James from Virginia. | Whether or not President Trump directed Mr Cohen, his former personal lawyer, to pay porn star Stormy Daniels "hush money" is irrelevant to James from Virginia. |
He is far more interested in talking up what he says are the president's huge achievements in office. | He is far more interested in talking up what he says are the president's huge achievements in office. |
"This is not going to change my loyalty or dedication to him," he says, arguing that the national conversation should instead focus on issues such as low unemployment and a healthy economy. | "This is not going to change my loyalty or dedication to him," he says, arguing that the national conversation should instead focus on issues such as low unemployment and a healthy economy. |
I wasn't surprised by James' unerring loyalty. Ever since I met him in August 2016, just weeks after Mr Trump was officially nominated as the Republican candidate, his support has been unwavering. | I wasn't surprised by James' unerring loyalty. Ever since I met him in August 2016, just weeks after Mr Trump was officially nominated as the Republican candidate, his support has been unwavering. |
James isn't an outlier. As I call a number of other Trump voters across different states, a pattern emerges in how they see the entire story. To them it's nothing more than a conspiracy against the man they elected. | James isn't an outlier. As I call a number of other Trump voters across different states, a pattern emerges in how they see the entire story. To them it's nothing more than a conspiracy against the man they elected. |
"Everyone wants to talk about sex," says Cathy De Grazia, who I met as she campaigned for Mr Trump in the state of New Hampshire in 2016. | "Everyone wants to talk about sex," says Cathy De Grazia, who I met as she campaigned for Mr Trump in the state of New Hampshire in 2016. |
"I don't care if he paid off a porn star or a playboy bunny, that doesn't impact his policy making." | "I don't care if he paid off a porn star or a playboy bunny, that doesn't impact his policy making." |
Cathy says she doesn't watch TV much these days, and listens instead to talk radio hosts such as Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly. | Cathy says she doesn't watch TV much these days, and listens instead to talk radio hosts such as Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O'Reilly. |
"Michael Cohen once publicly said he would always be loyal to 'Mr Trump'," writes O'Reilly in his latest blog to his audience. | |
"But now Cohen opines that his friend of many years is a danger to the country. | "But now Cohen opines that his friend of many years is a danger to the country. |
"Maybe Cohen is auditioning for the role of Brutus in the prison play." | "Maybe Cohen is auditioning for the role of Brutus in the prison play." |
The narrative in some conservative media circles has been to portray Mr Cohen as a fall guy, a sentiment Trump supporters sympathise with. | The narrative in some conservative media circles has been to portray Mr Cohen as a fall guy, a sentiment Trump supporters sympathise with. |
"He has been coerced and threatened," says Cathy, who believes both the Manafort and Cohen cases are the product of what she calls the "depth of corruption" in the FBI. | "He has been coerced and threatened," says Cathy, who believes both the Manafort and Cohen cases are the product of what she calls the "depth of corruption" in the FBI. |
"I think there's been a tremendous misuse of power and authority," she adds. | "I think there's been a tremendous misuse of power and authority," she adds. |
Ever since Mr Trump took office he has railed against the FBI and intelligence services, and it seems that strength of feeling has filtered down to his base. | Ever since Mr Trump took office he has railed against the FBI and intelligence services, and it seems that strength of feeling has filtered down to his base. |
A phone call to June Savage, a real estate agent and Trump loyalist in Miami, Florida, confirms this sentiment. | A phone call to June Savage, a real estate agent and Trump loyalist in Miami, Florida, confirms this sentiment. |
"They went on a fishing expedition and they caught two big fish," argues June, who unsuccessfully ran to become mayor of Miami Beach last year. | "They went on a fishing expedition and they caught two big fish," argues June, who unsuccessfully ran to become mayor of Miami Beach last year. |
"This is all smoke and mirrors to create a negative atmosphere. The FBI can make up stories once they find a target," she argues. "This target was the president." | "This is all smoke and mirrors to create a negative atmosphere. The FBI can make up stories once they find a target," she argues. "This target was the president." |
In a throwback to conversations during the 2016 campaign, June believes the real target should be Hillary Clinton. | In a throwback to conversations during the 2016 campaign, June believes the real target should be Hillary Clinton. |
"They [the Clintons] are one hair away from being investigated about everything that's been going on in this country," she says. | "They [the Clintons] are one hair away from being investigated about everything that's been going on in this country," she says. |
"They wanted her to have a clean slate. They have double standards." | "They wanted her to have a clean slate. They have double standards." |
The FBI ultimately cleared Mrs Clinton of criminal wrongdoing over her use of a private email server while she was US secretary of state. | The FBI ultimately cleared Mrs Clinton of criminal wrongdoing over her use of a private email server while she was US secretary of state. |
But that hasn't stopped Trump supporters citing the former Democratic presidential candidate's name as evidence of bias against their man. | But that hasn't stopped Trump supporters citing the former Democratic presidential candidate's name as evidence of bias against their man. |
Several also mentioned the tax affairs of Reverend Al Sharpton, a civil rights activist and host on left-leaning MSNBC, arguing that if Manafort's past was examined, so should Sharpton's. | Several also mentioned the tax affairs of Reverend Al Sharpton, a civil rights activist and host on left-leaning MSNBC, arguing that if Manafort's past was examined, so should Sharpton's. |
And to the Trump base, there's still no proof the president is guilty of a criminal act, or indeed collusion. | And to the Trump base, there's still no proof the president is guilty of a criminal act, or indeed collusion. |
"I haven't seen anything that implicates Donald Trump in anything," Frank Ruppert, a retiree who lives on the Maryland-West Virginia border, tells me. | "I haven't seen anything that implicates Donald Trump in anything," Frank Ruppert, a retiree who lives on the Maryland-West Virginia border, tells me. |
I phoned Frank - whom I first met after Mr Trump took office - while he was catching up on the day's headlines on Fox News. | I phoned Frank - whom I first met after Mr Trump took office - while he was catching up on the day's headlines on Fox News. |
"On some of the other networks they're talking about how Trump could be impeached for crimes he hasn't even committed, they've been saying that for two years," he adds. | "On some of the other networks they're talking about how Trump could be impeached for crimes he hasn't even committed, they've been saying that for two years," he adds. |
Some have accused Fox News of not focusing enough on the plight of Manafort and Cohen, going big instead on the arrest of a Mexican immigrant who is accused of killing a young woman from Iowa, Mollie Tibbetts. | Some have accused Fox News of not focusing enough on the plight of Manafort and Cohen, going big instead on the arrest of a Mexican immigrant who is accused of killing a young woman from Iowa, Mollie Tibbetts. |
But for much of the Trump base, the agenda of some conservative news outlets merely reflects their own political outlook. | But for much of the Trump base, the agenda of some conservative news outlets merely reflects their own political outlook. |
"I'd vote for Trump again, just like everyone would've voted for Bill Clinton again," says Frank. | "I'd vote for Trump again, just like everyone would've voted for Bill Clinton again," says Frank. |
"He's [Mr Trump] created jobs and economic growth, I can't see anything bad in what he's doing." | "He's [Mr Trump] created jobs and economic growth, I can't see anything bad in what he's doing." |
And as long as his supporters and media allies feel the same, perhaps the president has nothing to worry about. | And as long as his supporters and media allies feel the same, perhaps the president has nothing to worry about. |
Follow Rajini on Twitter @BBCRajiniV | Follow Rajini on Twitter @BBCRajiniV |
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