A notable aspect of Donald J. Trump’s political appeal is that many supporters are willing to cast their votes for him because they doubt he will follow through on many of his proposed actions.
The former president has made statements about using the Justice Department to target political adversaries, expressing intentions to remove non-loyalists from government positions. He has suggested that he would struggle to hire anyone who acknowledges the legitimacy of the 2020 election outcome. Trump has mentioned a controversial concept of a “one really violent day” where law enforcement could act with excessive force without repercussions. He has also called for mass deportations, predicting a “bloody story” as a result. While many of his supporters rally around these statements, others believe they are merely part of a performance.
However, there is evidence to suggest the opposite. During his presidency, some of Trump’s autocratic rhetoric came to fruition. He implemented a travel ban targeting Muslims, initiated inquiries into his political opponents, and incited a mob in response to the election results. Yet, in other instances, he faced obstacles, and much of his strongman talk did not translate into action.
This perspective informs how some voters perceive a potential second term. To justify his extreme statements, they extend him a form of reverse benefit of the doubt: though they harbor doubts, he remains an advantageous choice for them.