(ThyBlackMan.com) Have you ever made a significant purchase, such as a used car, and later realized it was a mistake?
Once you’re at home, you crunch the numbers and realize that with the new monthly car payment, auto insurance, gas, and maintenance for this model, along with your other monthly bills, you’ve put yourself in a financial bind. This leads to feelings of buyer’s remorse.
Buyer’s Remorse
Buyer’s Remorse appears to be what many who voted for Donald Trump are now feeling. Some of Trump’s supporters are comparing him to a “lemon” or a bad used car deal because they feel misled by the promises he made versus the reality of his policies and actions. Here’s why some are expressing buyer’s remorse:
- Broken Promises or Misleading Expectations – Many supporters expected economic growth, lower inflation, and better job prospects, but some of Trump’s recent policies—especially tariffs and government cuts—have reportedly hurt small businesses, caused price hikes, and disrupted jobs in certain industries.
- Unexpected Immigration Enforcement Policies – The Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement and mass deportations, including taking people off the streets and raids in sensitive locations such as hospitals and schools, have concerned supporters who did not foresee such actions. These actions have instilled fear within communities and among individuals who previously felt secure. Some voters didn’t anticipate the personal toll these policies would have on their neighbors or workplaces.
- High Tariffs – The implementation of high tariffs has disrupted global trade, leading to market instability and erasing trillions in stock market value. These actions have raised concerns about increased inflation, high prices for food, clothing, gasoline, and other daily necessities, as well as potential job losses, particularly among voters who had expected economic relief.
- Shock Over Government Restructuring – The creation of the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has resulted in significant federal job cuts and reductions in public services. DOGE is even cutting Social Security and Medicare, programs that for nearly 60 years have been considered sacred cows that no politicians would touch. During the campaign, Trump had assured voters that he would not touch Social Security or Medicare.
While some voters initially viewed these changes as necessary reforms, many now feel that the push for “efficiency” has come at the cost of essential services and their job security. Consequently, numerous individuals who supported Trump have lost their jobs due to the cuts implemented by DOGE.
- Perceived Authoritarian Behavior – Talk of seeking a third term and consolidating power has alarmed some who previously supported Trump but now fear a slide toward authoritarianism rather than democratic leadership.
- The “Sales Pitch” vs. Reality – Just like buying a used car based on a slick pitch only to discover hidden problems later, these supporters feel Trump sold them an idealized vision of America but delivered something that feels broken, chaotic, or self-serving.
I Feel So Stupid
Reflecting a deep sense of regret similar to making a used car purchase without knowing what was under the hood, several former Trump voters have publicly expressed regret over their decision to support him. Many of these disillusioned voters in interviews have used phrases like “I feel so stupid” or “this isn’t what I voted for.” One MAGA supporter made a list of 10 reasons entitled, 10 Reasons We’re Worse Off Now to explain why he regrets voting for Donald Trump:
- Prices are all rising
- 401K are tanking
- We’re headed into recession
- Musk laying off hard-working Americans
- DOGE laying off Veterans who fought for our country
- Soft on Russia; Putin playing Trump like a puppet
- Lost all our allies
- Incompetent idiots running defense
- Kids dying of measles for first time in a century
- Billionaires playing for votes
I now regret my vote for Trump
Here are some of Trump’s voters’ buyer’s remorse statements:
Lori McCammon, a voter from Wisconsin, reflected on her 2016 choice: She voted for Trump instead of Hillary Clinton because Hillary’s husband, Bill Clinton, had already been President for eight years. “I voted for Trump because I thought eight years of Clinton was enough. Looking back, I was so very wrong.”
Rich Logis, a former MAGA supporter from Florida, shared his disillusionment: “I realized Trump’s pervasive dishonesty and his mishandling of the pandemic. He disgusts me to my core.”
Staci White, who initially voted for Trump seeking economic benefits, later feared for her family’s financial stability due to widespread federal layoffs: “I voted for him for lower prices and safer borders, but now I’m worried about our future.”
Anonymous federal worker, expressing betrayal after job cuts: “I voted for Trump for a stronger economy, but now I’m facing unemployment due to his policies.”
Anonymous voter, reflecting on policy impacts: “I wish I knew he would mess with the Department of Education. I have two kids with IEPs and one in college.”
These testimonials illustrate how many individuals who once supported Trump are changing their perspectives. They are realizing that they were misled, and now they must confront the reality of a four-year commitment to pay for a flawed investment.
Riding In A Lemon
Like an unscrupulous used car salesman, Trump sold his supporters a political lemon. Many of his voters are now regretting their decision. However, not just his supporters but all of us—the American people—are metaphorically riding in a “lemon,” a vehicle with significant and persistent defects that make it unsafe to drive. The sticker on the window at the used car lot read “As Is”, which means there is no return policy.
Perhaps after we pay off this lemon in four years, we can make a much wiser choice the next time we go car shopping. Let’s pray for the best.
RJW is a retired Professor of Education. He is a prolific writer and the author of 12 Characteristics of an Effective Teacher.
