After Trump's policy betrayals, are his voters feeling like suckers yet?
It’s said “there’s a sucker born every minute.”
That seems particularly appropriate as one looks at recent presidential elections.
Trump’s policy betrayals of some faithful voter groups leaves us searching for the appropriate labels: Sucker. Chump. Sap. Pushover. Pigeon. Tool. Fool.
Voting statistics and subsequent Trump policies make all of those characterizations self-evidently appropriate. Not pejorative insults — just an observed phenomenon. Do members of any of these groups admit to being “suckered” now?
Hispanics. Rose from 28% supporting Trump in 2016 to 45% in 2024, including 54% of Hispanic men. How do they look back on those votes now that our Kristi Noem has terrorized both migrant and native-born Hispanics?
White evangelical Protestants. Around 80% Trump voters in all three elections. Are they evaluating his Christian values as he sprinkles the “F” world in his comments, as he cuts off U.S. aid to dying children, as he lies as easily as he breathes, as he attacks enemies with juvenile and cruel insults, never, ever attends church, and repeatedly embodies most of the traditional seven deadly sins (pride, envy ,wrath, gluttony, lust, sloth, and greed). Is their “Christian forgiveness” being tested?
Is “white” the big factor?
Farmers. Nearly 80% of farm counties went for Trump is all three elections. Do they feel like chumps now that Trump has destroyed overseas markets, driven up the cost of fertilizer and other farm costs, and hit them with gas and diesel shocks. Higher costs, lower commodity prices — is this OK with you farmers because he’s your favorite candidate?
Veterans. Around 60% went for Trump every time. Did they find the loss of 40,000 Veterans Affairs employees and subsequent service cuts an acceptable consequence of their support? Feeling foolish?
Active military personnel. Favored Trump narrowly over his opponents. Apparently not bothered by Trump’s dismissive attitude exemplified by demeaning the service of John McCain, refusing to attend a graveyard ceremony at Normandy and reportedly calling soldiers “losers” and “suckers” and appointing an unqualified Fox News commentator as their leader.
Cubans. About two-thirds Trump voters — big part of Florida redness. Perhaps thought they were exempt from ICE atrocities but have discovered they can be victims, too.
Other voting groups have been similarly betrayed and have cause to feel like fools. The Wall Street Journal reports that even some right-to-life organizations are regretting their support. Lifelong Republicans who believe in free trade, balanced budgets, America-first foreign policy, and constitutional adherence have acquiesced to abandoning those beliefs as a tradeoff to winning elections.
To classify those elected officials as “suckers” would be understating their subservience. If you doubt this, watch the commercials from our South Dakota Republican gubernatorial candidates.
Why do these politicians and blocks of voters stay in the Trump camp when he keeps dumping on them? Perhaps the perception of “Making America Great Again” actually meaning “Make America White Again” may be so important for some that they’ll swallow anything else they don’t like as long as the anti-immigrant campaign takes center stage.
Evidence is that they make up voting numbers that win Republican primaries.
These folks are not “suckers” — they are getting exactly what they wanted.
Mike Levsen is a former Aberdeen mayor and regular contributor to The South Dakota Standard.
Photo: public domain, wikimedia commons
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