‘I voted for none of this!’ Were Trump’s voters duped?
Donald Trump talks like a man of the people but leads like a brand ambassador for dysfunction.
Sure, the president dominates headlines, social media feeds and MAGA merch stands. But for the everyday Americans who handed him power out of desperation for change and an alternative to the Biden administration, Trump is starting to look like fool’s gold: shiny on the outside, hollow at the core.
In late April, a PBS -Marist poll gave Trump an “F” grade for his first 100 days back in office — and let’s be honest, that grade feels generous. While immigration remains the one consistent drum he bangs, even that is more performance than policy. Yes, border crossings are down. But the cruelty, confusion, and lack of transparency surrounding his policy has many Americans saying, “Not like this.”
Even conservative voices are turning up the volume. Patrick Bet-David, a three-time Trump voter and popular right-wing podcaster, called the administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case “the biggest fumble” so far.
“I’m a supporter,” said Bet-David. “Three times I voted for this man. This is by far the biggest fumble this administration has had thus far. … Why are you fumbling this? Why are you not having an emergency meeting to get on the same page and say hey, we’re gonna be on the same page on messaging on this?”
He’s not wrong. Trump’s Justice Department abruptly declared the case closed — despite years of teasing a bombshell client list.
Then there’s the tariff tirade. In true Trump fashion, he slapped a 30 percent tariff on imports from the EU and Mexico, blindsiding allies who had been negotiating in good faith. This is economic whiplash: One day you’re at the table, the next you’re dodging a trade war.
Even Mexico — a country that has learned to hold its diplomatic breath during Trump tantrums — called the move “unjust.” This is the same Mexico that helped us in a time of need — sending water rescue teams and firefighters to Texas just recently after the horrific floods that killed at least 129 people.
According to a brand new YouGov-Economist poll, support for Trump is plummeting among Black voters, who were once considered a potential swing bloc in 2024. In May, 22 percent of them approved of Trump. By July? Just 15 percent.
What’s driving the dip? The economy. Black voters, like most Americans, are tired of instability, rising prices, and Trump’s carnival-style economic policy. The same voters who gave Trump a shot because they wanted real change — lower costs, better jobs, stronger communities — are starting to see through the illusion.
Not to mention, we entered a 12-day war with Iran that no one wanted.
Don’t take my word for it. Let comedian and podcaster Andrew Schultz — a proud 2024 Trump voter — tell it. “I voted for none of this,” said Schultz. “He’s doing the exact opposite of everything I voted for. I want him to stop the wars — he’s funding them. I want him to shrink spending, reduce the budget — he’s increasing it. It’s like everything that he said he’s going to do — except sending immigrants back. And now he’s even flip-flopped on that, which I kind of like. But he’s like, oh, we need the people working in restaurants and we need our farmers.”
It’s convenient for Schultz to play confused now — he probably didn’t bother to review the Project 2025 initiative that everyone anti-Trump was warning about for the entire last election season. But I digress.
The truth is, Trump governs like a man who believes buzz is better than results, and that soundbites count more than substance.
But voters are getting wise. The slogans are stale, the gimmicks are wearing thin and the average American can’t pay the rent with fake gold.
Lindsey Granger is a News Nation contributor and co-host of The Hill’s commentary show “Rising.” This column is an edited transcription of her on-air commentary.