***UPDATE***

Data have been weighted to reflect a nationally representative population sample

CONTACT: Murat Haner, Ph.D. 941-681-5141
December 11, 2017 hanerm@usf.edu

PRESS RELEASE
WHO DOES THE AMERICAN PUBLIC BELIEVE?
DONALD TRUMP OR HIS FEMALE ACCUSERS
______________________________________________________________________________

Nearly two-thirds (64.9%) of respondents to an independent national survey say it is

unlikely all of Trumps accusers of sexual misconduct are lying.
______________________________________________________________________________

This finding is based on a survey designed by Murat Haner of the University of South Florida
and Teresa C. Kulig and Francis T. Cullen of the University of Cincinnati. The survey was
conducted by YouGov America between October 17-24, 2017 and polled a national probability
sample of 1,000 Americans.

HERE ARE FOUR KEY RESULTS OF THE SURVEY:

Question: Who is telling the truthPresident Trump or his accusers?

Half of Americans (51.0%) believe that the women are telling the truth when they
reported that Mr. Trump sexually harassed or assaulted them. By contrast, less than
one-fourth (23.1%) believe that the president was telling the truth when he denied any
wrongdoing. Nearly two-thirds (64.9%) state that it was unlikely or highly unlikely that
all the women were lying.

Question: Why did the women wait so long to report these incidents?

More than 6 in 10 Americans (62.9%) believe that the women did not report the incidents
because they are afraid of powerful men, like Mr. Trump, and believe that nothing
will be done.

Question: Were President Trumps comments to Bully Bush recorded on the Access Hollywood
tape only locker-room talk or an admission of guilt?

More than half of Americans (57.6%) believe that Mr. Trump was admitting that he
sexually assaulted women, just as the women who accused him of doing.

Question: What should happen if the accusations of the sexual misconduct of President Trump
against the women could be proven?

3 in 5 Americans (60.5%) believe that if the accusations can be proven, President Trump
should be impeached by the U.S. Congress.

1
 ***UPDATE***
Data have been weighted to reflect a nationally representative population sample

FULL REPORT OF FINDINGS

WHO DOES THE AMERICAN PUBLIC BELIEVE?
DONALD TRUMP OR HIS FEMALE ACCUSERS

Researchers:

Murat Haner
Assistant Professor of Criminology
University of South Florida-Sarasota Manatee

Teresa C. Kulig
Ph.D. Candidate, School of Criminal Justice
University of Cincinnati

Francis T. Cullen
Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice
University of Cincinnati

Survey conducted by:

YouGov America, Inc.

October 17-24, 2017
1,000 Respondents
National Probability Sample
______________________________________________________________________________

RESULTS
______________________________________________________________________________

DIRECTIONS TO SAMPLE RESPONDENTS:

During the presidential election, at least 10 women came forward and disclosed that Donald
Trump had used force to kiss them, had grabbed or groped them sexually, or had otherwise
engaged in behavior that might have been viewed as a sexual assault.

Then a presidential candidate, Donald Trump denied these complaints and said that all the
women were untruthful. He said that he had never engaged in any of these behaviors.

Given that Donald Trump is now the President of the United States, we wanted to understand
how the American public feels about this matter. People have different views. There are no
right or wrong answers. We are only asking about your opinion. When answering the questions
that follow, just select the answer that most closely represents your views even if it does not
match exactly.

2
No. SURVEY QUESTIONS %

Q1 Which of the following statements best represents your view of claims that Donald Trump
engaged in unwanted sexual conduct with a number of women?

A. I believe that Mr. Trump is telling the truth and that he said that he did not harass 23.1
or sexually assault any of the women
B. Mr. Trump might have done something inappropriate but it was minor and not a 25.9
sexual assault
N= C. I believe that the women are telling the truth when they reported that Mr. Trump 51.0
993 sexually harassed or assaulted them

Q2 One criticism of Donald Trumps accusers was that many of the alleged acts occurred
years ago and they never reported them to their bosses or the police. What is your view of
this?

A. Because the women did not file a report when the act supposedly occurred, I am 37.1
more likely to believe Mr. Trump that nothing ever occurred
B. Women who are sexually harassed or assaulted by powerful men, like Mr. Trump, 62.9
N= do not report incidents to authorities because they are afraid and think that nothing
994 will be done

Q3 During the presidential campaign, a video tape was released of Donald Trump telling
television host Billy Bush that he often grabbed women sexually. Mr. Trump said: I
dont even wait. And when youre a star, they let you do it. You can do anythinggrab
em by the pussy. What do you think about this incident?

A. Mr. Trump was engaging in locker room talk that all guys do, so it was no big 42.4
deal
N= B. Mr. Trump was admitting that he sexually assaulted women, just as the 10 women 57.6
988 who accused him of doing to them

Q4 To what extent do you agree with this statement: Even if Donald Trump did something
wrong, Hillary Clinton was more immoral, is a crook, and should be locked up.
A. Strongly agree 23.6
B. Agree 13.3
C. Agree a little 12.9
D. Disagree a little 10.3
N= E. Disagree 13.6
998 F. Strongly disagree 26.3

Total Agree 49.8

Total Disagree 50.2

3
No. SURVEY QUESTIONS %

Q5 Let us assume that the 10 women who accused Mr. Trump of sexual misconduct are
telling the truth. If this were proven to be the case, which of the following statements best
represents your view?

A. Mr. Trump should be impeached by the U.S. Congress and forced to resign as 60.5
N= President
985 B. Mr. Trump should remain as president 39.5

Q6 Donald Trump has claimed that he will be the best president ever for womenhe has
tremendous respect for women and he will do more for women than any other
president. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

A. Strongly agree 11.9

B. Agree 16.6
C. Agree a little 13.6
D. Disagree a little 10.9
N= E. Disagree 9.4
1000 F. Strongly disagree 37.6

Total Agree 42.1

Total Disagree 57.9

Q7 Which of the following statements best describes how you felt the day after Donald
Trump was elected president?

A. I was happy because I thought he would be a great president and make America 46.6
great again
N= B. I was depressed because I could not believe that my fellow Americans could elect 53.4
991 a sexual predator to the presidency of the country I love

Q8 The day after Donald Trump was inaugurated as president of the United States, there was
a Womens March across the United States and around the world. Which of the following
statements best describes how you felt?

A. The size of the Womens March was exaggerated by the fake news and it made no 43.2
difference anyway
B. The Womens March showed that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of 56.8
N= women were upset with Donald Trump and with the sexual assaults that females
992 often experience

4
No. SURVEY QUESTIONS %

Q9 Recently, Bill OReilly was forced out of Fox News Channel because of allegation of
sexual harassment of women. Donald Trump commented that he thought that Mr.
OReilly was a good person and that I dont think Bill did anything wrong. What is
your reaction to Mr. Trumps comments?

A. It was a case of one sexual predator defending another sexual predator 54.6
N= B. It was a case of one falsely accused public figure defending another public figure 45.4
966 he felt was being falsely accused

Q10 Finally, remember that 10 women accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct. What is
the likelihood that all of them are lying?

A. Highly likely 12.2

B. Likely 22.9
N= C. Unlikely 31.9
997 D. Highly unlikely 33.0

Total Likely 35.1

Total Unlikely 64.9

Table Note: Percentages reported may be affected by rounding.