Politics Trump’s Latino Lovefest
isn’t wearing a red cap. For generations, the veteranos have
been saying that one day our political power would match our demographic growth. This could be the day that we’ve waited for. For all the criticism of DEI (diversity,
LATINO VOTE FOR TRUMP 28% 32% 48% 2016 2020 2024 P
He worked hard for their support and it paid off, but was this a once-in-a-lifetime triumph? BY RUBEN NAVARRETTE
resident-elect donald Trump should rethink his campaign promise to unleash “the largest deportation pro-
gram in American history.” I’ve got a better idea. Given the love
that Latinos showed Trump in this election, Republicans should get these folks naturalized as U.S. citizens, get them voting on the regular, and get them to be part of the GOP coalition for generations. An astounding 46% supported
Trump. He got the support of 55% of Latino men, beating Vice President Kamala Harris by 10 points with that demographic. Overall, Trump increased his sup-
port among Latinos by double digits compared to his showing in 2020. He carried all seven battleground
states, and he did that on the strength of Latino support in Arizona, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. Incredibly, Trump ran the table.
He did well with the individual tribes that make up the Latino community. He won with Mexican Americans in
38 NEWSMAX | JANUARY 2025
South Texas, Puerto Ricans in Eastern Pennsylvania, and Cuban Americans in South Florida. Those folks don’t have much in common. According to CNN exit polls, 66% of
Latinos who voted for Trump said the economy — and not immigration — was their top issue. As for Trump’s triumph with Lati-
nos, I didn’t see it coming. For weeks leading up to the election, I had pre- dicted that Trump would get 40% of the Latino vote. But I couldn’t imagine 46%. That’s six points higher than 40%
of the Latino vote that Ronald Reagan got in 1984, and two points higher than the 44% that George W. Bush received in 2004.
Whenever Trump’s name is on the
ballot, he improves his performance with America’s largest minority. In 2016, Trump got 28% of the Latino vote. In 2020, he got 32%. And in 2024, it’s 46%. The metaphor that is most often
used to describe the Latino vote in the United States is that of a sleeping giant. I’ve heard it all my life. I just never thought I’d ever get to see the big guy wake up — and damn, if he
equity, and inclusion), it was Trump — and not a Democrat like Joe Biden, Barack Obama, or Bill Clinton — who sent the first Latino to Foggy Bottom when he nominated former Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to be secretary of state. Adhering to the first law of politics,
Trump actually bothered to ask Latinos for their support. In fact, he actively pursued them. Practicing its own form of identity
politics, the Trump campaign printed up “Latinos for Trump” yard signs, organized events targeting Latinos, put the candidate before a town hall orga- nized by Spanish-language network Univision, and quickly disavowed an anti-Puerto Rico joke told by a racist comedian at a Trump rally at Madison Square Garden. Meanwhile, Harris named as her
campaign manager Julie Chavez Rodri- guez — the granddaughter of Mexican American labor leader Cesar Chavez — and called it a day. Why wouldn’t Latinos flock to
Trump? We register as Democrats by a 2 to 1 margin, but we’re conserva- tive Democrats. It’s a short walk to vote Republican. Besides, we assimilate like mad. When a national wave of support builds up for Trump, from sea to shining sea, we’re certain to get swept up in it. That’s what happened. The only
question is whether it could happen again. Can Republicans repeat this magic trick in future elections where Trump’s name isn’t on the ballot? Not likely. Whatever spell Trump
cast over Latinos is nontransferable. When he goes, it goes. So, Republicans, enjoy this fiesta while you can. Because it won’t last.
CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
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