Politics
During a recent group discussion in a black barbershop, MSNBC found that many African-American voters are considering supporting former President Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election.
The group spoke with MSNBC correspondent Trymaine Lee and explained why a vote for Trump would be attractive to black voters.
Lee must have been stunned to learn that the men in the group or many of their close friends would shy away from voting for President Biden.
Participants cited Trump’s reputation as a “money man” and their own financial situation as reasons for their potential support. It’s a sentiment that challenges the common narrative that Trump’s policies primarily benefit the wealthy, not working-class Americans.
MSNBC: “Are there some people in your orbit who are voting for Donald Trump or considering him?”
Voter: “Of course. A lot of my friends are… they’re fine, we’re broke with Biden, we weren’t with Trump… with Trump, we had money.” pic.twitter.com/Q5IuAZ1nN7
— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) February 2, 2024
RELATED: Democratic Experts Said Biden and Harris Can Still Secure Black and Young Voters’ Votes — Here’s What Our GOP Experts Said
Black voters considering Trump: Here’s why
Participants in the Black Barber Shop focus group that took place in Charleston, South Carolina, said that under President Biden they felt broke, while under Trump they had money.
It’s a sentiment shared by many Americans.
“I just think Donald Trump, for all the craziness he may have in his head, reading some of the things he talks about I can agree with,” one voter told MSNBC. “Because I’m trying to grow my business.”
“As far as Biden goes, I haven’t seen Biden really take an interest in deals like that.”
Another Black Barber focus group voter said that while he can’t personally vote for Donald Trump, he knows plenty of people who can.
“Are there some people in your orbit who vote for Donald Trump or consider him?” asks an exasperated Lee.
“Of course,” one man replied. “A lot of my friends are obviously my age, so we’re a little younger. We only voted once, you know, for president, and Trump is pretty much all we know.
“They say, ‘Well, we’re broke under Biden. We weren’t with Trump.” And that’s the one thing I hear over and over… ‘With Trump, we had money,'” he explains. “Well, okay, I hear you guys. But personally, morally, I couldn’t see myself.” .
RELATED: New York Times worries about its own poll showing Trump gaining support from black voters ‘invisible … in modern times’
Polls show support may be there
A New York Times A November poll shows that support for Trump among black voters is approaching unprecedented levels.
“Black voters — long a bastion for Democrats and Biden — are now recording 22% support for Trump in these states, a level never seen in presidential politics for a Republican in modern times,” the Times feared .
Experts who spoke exclusively to The Political Insider, however, are divided on whether minority voters will gravitate to Trump.
“I think it’s too early to say whether this is a real realignment or a mirage. We saw similar claims in 2020 and there was no realignment among black voters,” speculated Professor William Jacobson of Cornell University.
Mark Mitchell, chief pollster at Rasmussen Reports, sees a slightly more positive outlook for Trump than Professor Jacobson.
“Our last meeting of 2024 had Biden winning black voters by just 22 points, and Trump winning Hispanic voters by 23 points,” he said. “These are huge advantages for Trump over previous elections and, if they hold, make Trump unbeatable.”
Now is the time to support and share the sources you trust.
The Political Insider ranks #3 on Feedspot’s “100 Best Political Blogs and Websites.”
