Unapologetically racist rhetoric has been a part of Donald Trump‘s political strategy dating back at least as far as his campaign launch speech in 2017. Calling Mexican immigrants “rapists” wasn’t enough to prevent many Latinx citizens from voting for him, however. Trump received 46% of the Latino vote in 2020, according to BBC exit polling, compared to the 52% that Harris received. 2024 also showed a surge in Latino support for Trump compared to 2016. Now, some are regretting their decision as the president’s increasingly oppressive policies target Latino Trump supporters as much as others.
Tariffs, Camps, and Other Threats to Latinos in U.S.
From the controversial pardoning of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists to the military planes deporting immigrants to Colombia, the Trump administration has made life increasingly dangerous for marginalized communities. To see the results, you only have to look as far as the farms. Reports of migrant farm workers not showing up to work due to the omnipresent threat of ICE raids are now common. People are scared, and the economic ripples are spreading throughout the U.S.
Some Latino Trump supporters have spoken out on social media, expressing regret for their votes. Others have doubled down on their support. A TikTok video on the subject by @pablog216 garnered over 100k likes and numerous comments. “Lots of thoughts and lots of emotion’s [sic] but I will say I stand firmly on this. And if you’re a Latino that voted for him you are a part of the problem.” As one commenter put it:
you vote for someone who actively h8s everything about u
Marginalized communities voting against their own interests is unfortunately nothing new, and it’s certainly not a phenomenon exclusive to Latinos in the U.S. As Trump administration policies continue to turn up the pressure, the chorus of protesting voices seems likely to become even more diverse.
