With Comey hearing, Trump is up against an audience of distrustful Americans


Sixty percent of Americans believe that President Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey in order to "protect himself," rather than "for the good of the country," a new ABC News/Washington Post poll has found. A vast majority, seven in 10, also distrusts President Trump's statements about Russia, with half of Americans saying they have no trust in Trump's word on the matter whatsoever.
The poll comes a day before Comey's highly anticipated testimony before the Senate, during which he will answer questions about reports that Trump tried to pressure him to drop an FBI probe into ousted National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, who reportedly also faced pressure from the president to curb the FBI's investigation, will testify today. Trump is reportedly prepared to "punch" back at Comey, with some White House aides saying to expect him to fire off tweets describing his reactions.
But Trump will face a tough audience: Just 27 percent of Americans think Trump fired Comey in America's best interests. Even Republicans aren't sure how to feel, with 48 percent distrusting Trump on the topic of Russia, and 45 percent trusting him.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Many Americans are also suspicious of Comey's word, too, though: 55 percent have some distrust or no trust in what he says about Russia. But "that said, distrust is 17 points lower than it is for Trump, and twice as many Americans have no trust whatsoever in what Trump says on the issue (50 percent) as have no trust at all in what Comey says (25 percent)," ABC News writes.
The poll reached 527 adults on the telephone in English and Spanish between June 2-4. The margin of error is plus or minus 5 points.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
Anne Hillerman's 6 favorite books with Native characters
Feature The author recommends works by Ramona Emerson, Craig Johnson, and more
-
How Zohran Mamdani's NYC mayoral run will change the Democratic Party
Talking Points The candidate poses a challenge to the party's 'dinosaur wing'
-
Book reviews: '1861: The Lost Peace' and 'Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers'
Feature How America tried to avoid the Civil War and the link between lead pollution and serial killers
-
Supreme Court clears third-country deportations
Speed Read The court allowed Trump to temporarily resume deporting migrants to countries they aren't from
-
Judges order release of 2 high-profile migrants
Speed Read Kilmar Ábrego García is back in the US and Mahmoud Khalil is allowed to go home — for now
-
US assessing bomb damage to Iran nuclear sites
Speed Read Trump claims this weekend's US bombing obliterated Tehran's nuclear program, while JD Vance insists the US is 'not at war with Iran'
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday
-
Smithsonian asserts its autonomy from Trump
speed read The DC institution defied Trump's firing of National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet
-
Trump sends Marines to LA, backs Newsom arrest
speed read California Gov. Gavin Newsom is filing lawsuits in response to Trump's escalation of the federal response to ICE protests