One-in-four Americans who voted for President Trump in 2024 now regret their choice. A third of Black (34%) and Latino (32%) Americans who voted for Trump now regret their vote, double the rate of white Trump voters (16%) who now regret their vote. While Trump made significant gains with Black and Latino Americans in 2024 – especially Black and Latino men – we now see these gains fracturing among this very group in the face of a deeply unpopular foreign war and skyrocketing prices at home.

Trump Regretters Are Feeling Anxious About the Country and “Catfished” by Political Candidates

While sharing the reasons they regret their 2024 vote choice, these Black and Latino men say it stems deeply from a place of worry about the state of the country and economy. Almost all shared sentiments of anxiety, nervousness, or concern heading into this upcoming election.

• “I’m concerned about the working middle class. Everything is so expensive. Trying to raise children with what’s going on in the world with war… Yeah, there’s no unity amongst people. So raising children in this kind of environment is really, it’s tough.”  – Latino man, 58, FL, Trump regretter

These men described feelings of betrayal because they voted for Trump in hope of better support for the middle class, but now see the country in a “downward spiral.” One describes being politically “catfished” by Trump and political candidates running today. 

• “I voted for this administration twice, and I was betrayed the second time with no wars and great prices. And I hear them talking about the 401ks, how great they are, but it seems that mine is shrinking, so I don’t know what they’re talking about. ” – Latino man, 61, FL, Trump regretter

• “Right now, the general feeling with everybody that I know, including myself, is that the country is in a downward spiral. I mean, at this point, with the wars, with the prices of gas, electricity, food, general housing, taking care of our kids going up…even if we do get new folks in, I only expect more infighting within the two parties to where things stay stagnant.” – Latino man, 39, TX, Trump regretter 

• “I guess I will use the word ‘catfished,’ I had expectations, I thought things were gonna go a certain way…I was listening and paying attention, and I thought I knew I had an educated vote…I feel like I didn’t vote for him because I thought he was gonna be a great president…but I just felt like he would have been a better president than who else was running.” – Black man, 43, GA, Trump regretter 

War, Cost of Living, and Cruel Immigration Tactics Are the Biggest Drivers of Regret

High costs and expensive wars are among the top reasons why Trump voters overall regret their vote, and Black and Latino men strongly shared these sentiments. While these men voted for a second Trump term – many twice – we are now seeing real cracks in support due to Trump’s cost-raising policies. 

Black and Latino men see the far-reaching effects of the prolonged war with Iran: 

• “Just because we weren’t really attacked, we went ahead and started it, but then after that he was saying, oh, this is gonna be over in a few hours, it’s gonna be over in a few days, but it’s ongoing, and I don’t see it stopping anytime soon.”  – Latino man, 39, TX, Trump regretter 

They also experience the very real impacts of rising costs because of Trump’s broken promises: 

• “I mean, he said he was not gonna go into wars…and then he started making cuts…I agree that we overspend on a lot of things, but now it’s becoming, like, ridiculous…there’s some things that, you know, he’s made cuts on and it’s affecting the middle class and people below the middle class as well.” – Latino man, 35, TX, Trump regretter 

• “Both parties that was running on the promise to do better for the middle class…which is how he got in that position to be the president, off the backs of the very same people that he swore to help, but then as soon as he get in office, he did a total [180].” – Black man, 45, MS, Trump regretter

• “It’s with healthcare costs. I mean, I have a special needs child and what we pay for health insurance, for therapies, medicines. Everything is a denial. You got to appeal everything and it’s very difficult… across the board it’s just ridiculous… I felt it in the last couple of years and I’ve seen the rates – how much they increase by – and it just becomes harder.” Latino man, 58, FL, Trump regretter 

While many of these men say they want to see immigration enforcement, when personally confronted with the cruel and indiscriminate tactics used by the Trump administration, it became fuel for their regret. 

• “I have seen [immigration enforcement] in our community where I live…it’s so harsh and it’s really affecting families. I get it…as a country, we have immigration laws. But the way it’s being handled, and Trump doesn’t address that. He has been radio silent…you see people getting shot, you know, families being separated, and again, I’m for enforcing, but if someone is in a process, or they’re trying to get a certain visa or something else, and they’re doing it the right way, those people are the ones that are also being affected, you know? It’s like what happened to a country that’s welcoming to so many people of all different walks of life.” – Latino man, 58, FL, Trump regretter 

• “I live at the border of Mexico… It’s always on the news that [ICE are] stopping people, separating families and things of that nature. Like I understand these were laws that were already in place…I think the way they’re doing it is a bit harsh to where they’re not pinpointing, let’s say criminals, but basically everybody.” – Latino man, 39, TX, Trump regretter

• “I am a citizen…but when I leave my apartment, I worry that somebody’s gonna pull me over… it’s going to spiral out of control…these ICE people, they have no idea what they’re doing. Even me having my documentation in place, there’s a chance that they can actually take me away, and…really mess up my life for a mistake. That is the biggest thing, not only for me, but also everybody that’s around me.” – Latino man, 43, FL, Trump regretter

Even men whose lives were not directly impacted by ICE noted that simply witnessing the harsh enforcement made them rethink their vote. 

• “I live in a multicultural neighborhood…and to see some of these families that have been living on my street for 10, 15 years being ripped apart like that, violently ripped apart, man, it’s just, I figured that it’s got to be a better way.” – Black man, 45, MS, Trump regretter 

However, despite these many reasons for regret, most of these men are hesitant to share their feelings of regret for Trump with others, often leading to feelings of isolation and further division. 

Despite Regret, Black and Latino Men Are Not Necessarily Motivated to Vote Democrat – or Even At All

Regret and disappointment in President Trump for these men have not translated into broad support for Democrats in the upcoming election – or even motivation to participate at all in the midterms. 

Trump’s endorsement is backfiring in these battleground states for some Black and Latino Trump 2024 voters. In Florida, it’s propelled one Trump 2024 voter to unequivocally support Democrats this November: 

• “President Trump said that he wanted the Republican [Byron Donalds] to be a governor in Florida…I always remember that comment that he said, so I am voting against him. I’m voting for the Democrat…I’m going Democrats…all the way.” – Latino man, 61, FL, Trump regretter 

In Georgia, the candidate choices are seen by one participant as bad vs. bad, which has fueled disillusionment with the electoral process: 

• “The choices are, like I said earlier, it’s… bad against bad. There aren’t… and based on any research or anything that I’ve seen, neither one of them deserve my vote, so it’s overwhelming, and it’s confusing, and it’s discouraging.” – Black man, 43, GA, Trump regretter 

One participant from Texas was undecided but open to voting for a Democrat: 

• “I’m more open to voting for a Democrat… I usually lean more towards the right, but with the direction the country’s been going, [the] current state with everything, the prices going up, and the wars, and then the different issues in regards to, let’s say, AI centers and data centers and things of that nature… Definitely taking more of a look into each candidate’s past, what their records are, things of that nature, and then voting based on that.” – Latino man, 39, TX, Trump regretter

Others became less motivated to vote in the upcoming midterms. They see our country as in crisis and don’t see the value of their vote, one participant stating that “sometimes I feel like we might be to the point of no return.” But that same man also shared: 

• “Because more has happened, more issues have arose…I think that not doing anything is only going to add to the problem…we can’t just watch…you know, if you see a house on fire, you would call 911. I feel like we should call 911.” – Black man, 43, GA, Trump regretter 

Black and Latino Men Are Looking For Candidates Who Can Deliver, Not Just Be a Check on Trump

While they may regret their 2024 vote choice, when looking ahead to the upcoming election, these men are looking for a candidate who has their own point-of-view and is willing to actually deliver on a better life for Americans – regardless of race or party. When it comes to Democrats, one participant saw the Democratic Party as weak, but with potential.

Our Trump regretters said they are looking for candidates who can deliver for them, rather than candidates affiliated with a certain party. They don’t want someone who is a rubber-stamp to the Trump agenda, but also don’t want someone who is just going to oppose everything Trump does for the sake of–these voters are seeking someone who will deliver on their top issues.

Corruption is a Priority, Just Not The Priority

Corruption consistently ranks as a top five issue for Americans nationally and as a top two issue in some battleground states. These men who now regret their vote see Trump as a key part of that corruption. 

One Latino man from Florida said, “the senators owning stocks and trading while in office for stocks, that to me, that’s corruption.” In response, one Black man from Mississippi stated, “With Trump doing it also and his children benefitting off of it and everybody around him benefiting off of it…meanwhile we sitting around here starving, we got to pay $6 of gas a gallon.”

However, many have an issue with corruption in government because of how difficult it is now for them to make ends meet. 

• “I generally feel that pretty much almost every single politician in some way or form does something to better their position. I wouldn’t mind it if the country wasn’t in such a downward spiral.” – Latino man, 39, TX, Trump regretter

Black and Latino men in our group were also divided on who to blame for corruption – whether it’s systemic failures or individual bad actors.

While one man believes that addressing corruption should be our elected leaders’ No. 1 priority, most feel that while it should be a priority, in the face of the current affordability crisis, there are “bigger fish to fry.”