One in five Americans who voted for President Trump in 2024 now say they regret it — a share that has held steady across Navigator’s most recent surveys. This report examines who these “Trump regretters” are, what issues may be driving their remorse, and where they turn for news.
Trump Regretters are Younger
Trump regretters are much younger than other Trump voters. A majority of Trump regretters are younger than 45 (59%), including one-in-five who are under 30 (23%). Non-regretters tend to be older, with two-in-three over 45 (66%), including one-in-three who are over 65 (33%). Beyond age, Americans who regret their vote for Trump in 2024 are similar to those who don’t by gender, income, race, religion, and education.
- A plurality of regretters describe themselves as “moderate” (43%) – compared to 27% of non-regretters who say the same. 41% of regretters describe themselves as either “somewhat” or “very” conservative, compared to 68% of non-regretters.
Trump Regretters Have Mixed Views of the Republican Party
Trump regretters have mixed feelings about the Republican Party: 52% view it favorably versus 43% unfavorably — a nine-point margin that stands in sharp contrast to non-regretters, who are overwhelmingly favorable toward the Republican Party (88%). Though Trump regretters are somewhat split on their views of the Republican Party, their views of the Democratic Party are more certain, with two-in-three viewing the Democratic Party negatively (30% favorable – 66% unfavorable), although here too, regretters depart from non-regretters, who are even more negative toward Democrats.
That negativity extends beyond party politics: 64% of Trump regretters believe the country is on the wrong track, while only 33% believe it is headed in the right direction. Non-regretters see things almost in mirror image with 70% saying the country is headed in the right direction and only 22% believing it’s off course.
Economy, Tariffs, and ICE all Underwater Among Trump Regretters
Key pillars of Trump’s first term have fallen flat with regretters. A majority of regretters say the economy is either “poor” or “not so good” (64%), compared to only 35% who rate the economy positively. Regretters’ views of tariffs are underwater by 31 points (30% favorable – 61% unfavorable), compared to non-regretters who view tariffs favorably by 35 points (62% favorable – 27% unfavorable). And it’s not just about the economy – regretters view ICE negatively by 24 points (34% favorable – 58% unfavorable), compared to non-regretters who hold overwhelmingly favorable views of ICE (net +62; 79% favorable – 17% unfavorable).
Trump Regretters More Likely to Turn to Social Media for News
Trump regretters and non-regretters consume news at nearly identical rates: about 61% from both groups actively seek it out, while 39% are passive news consumers, meaning the news comes to them . But Trump regretters are more likely to get their news from social media. 45% of Trump regretters use social media websites as a news source, compared to 37% of non-regretters. Similarly, 27% of Trump regretters get news from social media influencers or creators, while only 18% of non-regretters say the same.
