Posts Falsely Claim 200,000 Amish Voters Back Trump

Outlandish claims of massive Amish support for Donald Trump spread on social media

Experts say numbers don’t add up, and Amish culture goes against political participation

In the final stretch of the 2020 presidential campaign, a flurry of social media posts claimed that over 200,000 Amish voters had registered to vote for Donald Trump. The claims, which originated from a conservative website, were quickly amplified by Trump supporters and right-wing media outlets.

However, experts on Amish culture and voting patterns say the claims are baseless. They point out that the Amish population in swing states is far too small to account for the number of votes claimed, and that Amish religious beliefs and cultural norms strongly discourage political participation.

For example, in Pennsylvania, one of the key swing states mentioned in the claims, there are an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 Amish people. Even if every single Amish person in the state voted for Trump, it would not be enough to account for the 200,000 votes claimed.

In addition, the Amish way of life is based on a strict interpretation of the Bible, which emphasizes humility, pacifism, and separation from the world. Political participation, including voting, is seen as incompatible with these values.

Experts say the claims of mass Amish support for Trump are likely part of a larger effort to spread disinformation and sow doubt about the integrity of the election. They urge voters to be skeptical of such claims and to rely on credible sources of information.