WASHINGTON – A new pew Research Center study reveals a significant decline in support for President Donald Trump among Latino voters following his implementation of stricter policies. While Trump garnered 48% of the Latino vote in the 2024 election – a rise from 28% in 2016 – recent data indicates a reversal in that trend.
The study, released today, found that 70% of Latinos “disapprove of the way Trump is handling his job as president,” with 65% disapproving of his administration’s approach to immigration and 61% believing his economic policies have worsened economic conditions.
Initially, after the 2024 election, some latino voters, particularly men, cited Trump’s economic proposals and immigration policies as reasons for their support, with some suggesting he wasn’t serious about mass deportations. An October 2024 Siena poll for the New York Times showed over 40% approved of his proposal to build a border wall, despite two-thirds of Latinos stating they “do not feel like he is talking about me” when he discussed immigration.
However, since the implementation of sweeping tariffs, social safety net spending cuts, and increased immigration raids, support has diminished. In June, a co-founder of Latinas for Trump publicly criticized widespread immigration arrests as “unacceptable and inhumane.”
Recent electoral results reflect this shift, with democrats regaining ground in November’s gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia.
The Pew report also highlights a partisan divide within the Latino electorate. While nearly all Latinos who voted for Kamala Harris in 2024 disapprove of Trump, 81% of those who voted for Trump still approve of his job performance – a decrease from 93% at the beginning of his term.
Growing concerns about deportation are also evident, with 52% of Latinos now fearing that they, a family member, or a close friend coudl be deported, up from 42% in March. Nearly 60% reported witnessing or hearing about immigration raids or arrests in their communities in the past six months.
For the first time in nearly two decades, Pew reported that “most Hispanics say their situation has worsened,” with 78% believing Trump’s policies have harmed their community, compared to just 10% who believe they have been helped. Latinos represent one in five Americans and are one of the fastest-growing demographics in the United States.
