MAGA supporters stand with Trump by 'sussing out rhetoric from reality': report

Although Donald Trump has promised, if he defeats Kamala Harris next month, to carry out "the largest mass deportation operation in history," to throw his political opponents in prison, and even floats the idea of becoming a dictator — many of the ex-president's loyal fans don't believe he'll do any of that.

The New York Times' Shawn McCreesh — who spoke with several MAGA supporters during Trump's Detroit Economic Club appearance last week — submits that "they rationalize his rhetoric, by affording him a reverse benefit of the doubt. They doubt; he benefits."

40-year-old Detroit resident, Mario Fachini, told McCreesh, "I think the media blows stuff out of proportion for sensationalism."

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He added, "It could just be for publicity, just riling up the news."

Another Trump supporter, 67-year-old Tom Pierce told the Times reporter that he "did not truly believe" the GOP nominee "would round up enough immigrants to carry out 'the largest mass deportation operation in history.' Even though that is pretty much the central promise of his campaign."

The Northville, Michigan resident added, Trump "may say things, and then it gets people all upset, but then he turns around and he says, 'No, I’m not doing that.’ It’s a negotiation. But people don’t understand that."

GOP pollster and former Trump senior counselor Kellyanne Conway told the Times, "I think people have very thick shock absorbers when it comes to Donald Trump. People have a very good sense of sussing out rhetoric from reality."

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The New York Times' full report is available here (subscription required).