Phillip

Nearly a year after voting for Trump, Phillip expressed deep concern about the impact of immigration enforcement, particularly racial profiling in sanctuary states. While supportive of border security and legal enforcement, he criticized indiscriminate deportations affecting brown and Hispanic communities. He also emphasized the ongoing economic strain on families, noting rising prices, financial insecurity, and the effects of government inaction. He criticized Democrats for being out of touch and lacking a clear plan, even when their policies intended to help vulnerable populations.

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Our initial interviews were conducted in participant’s homes, and lasted approximately 3 hours. The follow up interviews were conducted remotely via Zoom, and lasted around 30 minutes. The following are shortened clips from these interviews.

Phillip focused on the real-life impact of government dysfunction, such as shutdowns affecting healthcare, unemployment benefits, and family finances. He continued to deal out criticism across parties, seeing both as responsible for gridlock, and stressed the need for actionable solutions that protect ordinary people. Phillip prioritized practical outcomes over party loyalty, with concern for the well-being of families and communities driving his political priorities.

Phillip described the news about the 2025 elections, including the news about Latinos abandoning the GOP, as “amazing,” but doubted this shift was actually happening. This skepticism reflected a recurring theme across interviews: his distrust not only of political leaders, but also of political narratives and media framing. He also spoke extensively about Trump’s leadership for the previous 10 months and his disappointment at Trump’s “lies and selfishness,” saying he is “running the White House as if it was his former show, the Apprentice.” While Phillip had once been drawn to Trump’s promises of economic discipline and stronger enforcement, he shifted toward viewing Trump’s leadership style as chaotic and self-serving.

Phillip talked about the bombing of Venezuelan boats by the Trump Administration, calling him a dictator over his actions — marking a sharper break from his past willingness to give Trump the benefit of the doubt. Yet even as his judgment of the administration intensified, his underlying priorities remained consistent. He continued to highlight rising costs, expressing his ongoing frustration at Trump for his role in higher prices, including healthcare premiums. Phillip also spoke about Kilmar Ábrego GarcÍa and his deportation to El Salvador, saying he’s glad he’s free, reinforcing how his immigration views have moved from supporting stricter enforcement on principle to worrying about targeting innocent people in practice. For the first time, Phillip indicated that he is considering voting for a Democrat in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections — a notable shift given his earlier emphasis on Republican economic values.