The Senate Intelligence Committee Report on Trump and Russia: How Trump Supporters Will React

Recently, the Senate Intelligence Committee released a bipartisan report implying that the Trump administration obstructed its investigation. This report portrays the Trump campaign as eager to accept help from Russia, which could be a significant shift for Trump supporters. Understandably, such a report may face resistance from those who view it with suspicion and may dismiss it outright as part of the liberal agenda to discredit their leader.

Expected Reaction from Trump Supporters

Given the history of skepticism and dismissal within Trump supporter communities, it's highly likely that they will not accept this report. They will likely dismiss it as fake news and part of a broader liberal conspiracy aimed at discrediting Trump. Even if they do read the report, their interpretation might be skewed in favor of a positive outcome for their leader. If any supporters accept the report, they may still insist that it was for the good of the country, making them more immune to these findings unless it becomes personal and impacts their own communities.

Key Points from the Senate Intelligence Committee Report

Upon closer inspection of the report, several key points emerge:

Pro-Russian Stance of Trump and Russia

The report states that PuTTY and the Russian government demonstrated a preference for candidate Trump, suggesting a friendly relationship that might not surprise Trump supporters given his pro-Russian stance. However, the report's association with an unverified dossier and the subsequent impeachment attempts may weaken its credibility significantly.

Obstruction Claims

The bipartisan report mentions that there were no signs of obstruction in the investigation. This is backed by a statement from the report: King, who has read the unredacted version of the 158-page report, said the heavy redactions were not intended to shield the committee’s findings—rather to protect the sources and methods of the U.S. intelligence community. This directly addresses the obstruction allegations but leaves room for further skepticism from Trump supporters.

Michael Atkinson Firing and Bias Concerns

Further investigation into the report reveals that the reference to Trump firing Michael Atkinson, the intelligence community’s inspector general, is based on a similar case with Obama and stems from opposition party members. Additionally, the author of the report, Kyle Cheney, whose social media and support base are often opposed to Trump, may introduce bias into these discussions. These elements suggest that Trump supporters may find the report less reliable due to these biases.

Conclusion

The report primarily paints a pro-Russian stance of both Trump and Russia, which could be unsurprising to Trump supporters. In terms of obstruction, the evidence is largely inconclusive, with significant potential for bias and skepticism. Overall, the only noteworthy findings are the reported friendly relationship and no indication of obstruction. This may not sway hard-core Trump supporters as effectively as some might hope.