Maddow Cracks Up MSNBC Crew Over Stunning Trump Support Even If He’s a Felon: ‘He’s Gonna Be Convicted’

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow cracked up colleagues with her reaction to a stunning entrance poll showing a whopping two-thirds of Republicans think former President Donald Trump is still qualified to be president if he’s convicted of felonies — and an also-whopping 32% saying he’s not.

Monday marked the first nominating contest in the Republican presidential primary, the influential (if not representative) Iowa caucuses. The race was called for Trump within 30 minutes, leaving the vote counting, the next contests, and things like those entrance polls to banter about.

Maddow co-anchored MSNBC’s special Decision 2024 coverage of the Iowa Caucuses Monday night, along with Chris Hayes, Joy Reid, Ari Melber, and Steve Kornacki.

Hayes asked Kornacki about the poll question, and Maddow expressed stunned disbelief that Republicans are about to nominate someone whom a large chunk of a very conservative electorate believes may be disqualified:

CHRIS HAYES: The other thing I’m curious about, Steve, if you don’t mind, is that other question about the possibility of conviction, which we talked about, the meteor that may land at any moment, which, you know, people who are there know that that’s possible. Uh, take us through that one.

STEVE KORNACKI: Yeah. No, I mean, you asked the question here. Donald Trump is convicted. Do you consider him fit to be president?

Again, this is our entrance poll of Republican caucus goers. So yes, similar, you know, very similar spread here.

Yes is 63%. And I can just show you the breakdown on this is, those who say he’s fit to serve, 71%. Then who say they’re going to vote for him tonight. It’s 13% for DeSantis. It is 6% for Haley.

Among those who say no, Trump would not be fit to serve. Number is Haley. Remember, Haley seems to be gobbling up the lion’s share of the anti-Trump votes. You see 50% for Haley with this group, DeSantis is getting 30%, Trump is getting 9%.

And actually, Trump is barely edging out Ramaswamy, who’s getting 8% with this group. (laughter).

But yeah, this is about a one third, two third divide about the legitimacy of the 20 election, about Trump’s legal situation. And you could just see how it, that is the divide you’re seeing there in the party.

RACHEL MADDOW: Again, though, big picture is the big picture here. This means that of people turning out to caucus in Iowa. A third of them think that if Donald Trump is convicted, he is not fit to be president. In this incredibly conservative electorate where Trump is going to run away with the Iowa caucuses by a mile and then some. Still, a third of that electorate says if he’s convicted, MM-MM.

They’re going to nominate him nationwide? When even a third of Iowa caucus goers say no, he can’t be president if he’s convicted? I’m sorry, but (stage whispers) He’s gonna be convicted!

(laughter)

ARI MELBER: Rachel, there’s overwhelming evidence in several of these cases, so I can’t say what’s going to happen. But there’s very strong evidence.

RACHEL MADDOW: I can, not a lawyer. (stage whispers) He’s gonna be convicted!

(laughter)

ARI MELBER: Stage whispering!

Watch above via MSNBC’s special Decision 2024 coverage of the Iowa Caucuses.