Analysis
During his initial candidacy in 2016, Donald Trump began his presidential bid by called Mexican “rapists.” He then ran a campaign on walling Central Americans off from the United States.
Latinos have also been dying of COVID-19 at much higher rates than whites, with Trump insufficiently acting to stem the virus’ destruction. But from the recent exit polling for the ongoing 2020 election, it’s clear that some Latinos see themselves aligned with Trump’s policies—and that seemingly shocking result has led to an onslaught of “Latinos for Trump” memes.
This reality seemed to be especially the case in Florida, where according to the NBC News Exit Poll of early and Election Day voters, “47 percent of Latino voters in Florida supported Trump — up 12 percentage points from 2016.” (To be crystal clear, it must be acknowledged that the white vote for Trump has pulled his candidacy along in 2016 and 2020.)
“This pattern seems to be taking place despite the growing number of Puerto Ricans—who lean far more heavily Democratic than Cubans—in Florida’s electorate,” says NBC News. “Today, nearly 3 out of 10 Latino voters in Florida identify as Puerto Rican. According to the NBC News exit poll of the early and Election Day voters, about a third of Puerto Rican voters in Florida today supported Trump. In comparison, 56 percent of Cuban voters supported Trump.”
In Texas, Reuters reported that “four in 10 Hispanics voted for Trump, up from three in 10 in 2016.”
Given the relatively tight races in Florida and Texas and Trump’s open disdain, support for him within the Latino/Hispanic community has been extremely puzzling. As analysts unpack the reasons why in the coming days—poor recruitment efforts by Democrats, shifting attitudes about identity, Catholicism—we’ve decided to gather the best reactions and “Latinos for Trump” memes.
‘Latinos for Trump’ memes
Selena and her killer was always going to make the list:
Some of the posts have taken a much more serious note.
Some pointed out the Trump administration’s damaging use of detention camps filled with Hispanics at the U.S. southern border. It appears “Latinos for Trump” overlooked this gross and inhumane treatment of people.
Many noted the low regard Hispanics have historically been given: “Oh there you go ‘LaTInoS FoR TRump’ shut up remember where you [came] from,” tweeted user Nayelly Nails.
However, all memes and prior history aside, there remains some truths:
As @msdanifernandez wrote, which also could be applied to Black Trump voters: “Latinos who voted for Trump: You will never be one of them. They use you. Make no mistake, they do not like you. If you were murdered by police, they’d dig up stories on you, to justify it. To them, your ancestors come from ‘shithole’ countries. You will never be one of them.”
More election 2020 coverage
