Former President Donald Trump has returned to New Hampshire Participate in a CNN city Hall created buzz for staunch supporters who were enjoying his dominance in the polls.
“I thought there was a very clear message from President Trump last night,” said Steve Richard, a Republican real estate investor. “I think the audience has reflected that over and over again.”
Trump took questions from Republicans and independent Granite State voters and repeatedly made fraudulent claims that the 2020 election was stolen and said he would “settle the Russian war in Ukraine in a day.”
New Hampshire voters will cast primary ballots for the Republican presidential nominee early next year, yet some Trump voters appear unfazed by several legal issues facing the former president.
Trump was earlier this week Found guilty of sexual harassment and defamation Author E. Against Jean Carroll. She was awarded $5 million in damages after a jury unanimously found in her favor, but Trump called Carroll’s story “false” and “fabricated” on Wednesday night.
Will Lanzoni/CNN
June Dickerson, an independent who voted for Trump, said she trusts him.
“He’s a very honorable man,” she said. “He always spoke his mind. He was always honest and forthright and I don’t believe lies.”
Republican voter Louise Hoyt said she plans to vote for Trump again.
“They’re trying to stop him, that’s what they’re trying to do,” he said.
However, Trump’s attack on Carroll did not sit well with independent voter Melania Morton.
“I think it’s amazing that he got that conviction and still continues to shame him and put him down. It seems like he thinks he’s above the law. It’s disgusting,” Morton said.
Seth Wenig/AP
The former president is clearly ahead in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, but Christine Burke, who previously voted for Trump, said it would be a struggle to vote for him again.
“I just think he caused too much havoc while he was president and it was too much for the country,” Burke said.
The former president has more than 50 endorsements in the Granite State, but a top Republican is skeptical of Trump’s widespread support. Jason Osborne, the New Hampshire House Majority Leader who recently endorsed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the 2024 election, told CBS News that he’s starting to see a growing fatigue in Trump’s support.
“I think it’s a slow bleed. It’s not like it’s not going to happen all at once. And this one town hall isn’t going to make a big difference,” he said. “But over the next few months, as we move through this campaign, when Gov. Ron DeSantis runs and starts to pick up support, you’re going to see that support drop more and more. It’s time for us to get to the primary.”
– Robert Costa contributed reporting.