For Christopher Pugh, the 2020 election marked a significant shift in his views. Already skeptical of the government, his distrust deepened as he consumed Fox News coverage and posts on social media. He now holds a belief that the 2020 election was stolen and relies heavily on former President Donald Trump for information regarding election results.
Among Americans, trust in government-certified election results varies. A recent survey by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USAFacts shows that while most trust these results to some extent, Republicans are more likely to place their trust in Trump and his campaign. Despite evidence to the contrary, Trump continues to propagate the false narrative of a rigged election and has garnered support from a significant portion of Republicans who doubt the legitimacy of President Joe Biden’s victory.
As the 2024 election approaches, concerns about misinformation loom large. Many Americans express low trust in the information provided by presidential candidates, particularly Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. While most Democrats trust government certification of election results and information from candidates, a notable percentage of Republicans lean towards Trump’s campaign for accurate information.
The survey reveals differing levels of trust among Americans in various sources of information regarding the election. While trust in government certification is moderate, confidence in national and local TV news networks, as well as newspapers, to provide accurate information is higher. Nonetheless, skepticism persists, especially towards campaign messages from both presidential candidates.
Americans express challenges in discerning factual information from the candidates’ messages. Many believe Trump’s campaign messages lack factual basis compared to Harris’s, contributing to heightened skepticism among the public. Despite this, Americans generally find it easier to access logistical information about voting procedures compared to distinguishing between fact and opinion in political discourse.
Concerns about misinformation are widespread, with many Americans highlighting the prevalence of false information in political messaging. Individuals adopt various strategies to verify information, including conducting internet searches, consuming news from reputable sources, and cross-referencing information from multiple outlets.
As the 2024 election draws near, the issue of misinformation and mistrust in political messaging remains a prevalent concern among Americans. While efforts are made to access accurate information, the challenge of navigating through a landscape of conflicting narratives and misperceptions persists.
