Focus group: Black men who backed Trump approve of his presidency — but raise some concerns about DOGE
New conversations with Black men who voted for Donald Trump in swing states in November showed that nearly all of them remain staunchly with him, but his administration's Department of Government Efficiency and his tariffs are potential pain points for the president among his supporters.
Some of these men — who participated in a recent focus group observed by NBC News as part of the 2025 Deciders series, produced by Syracuse University and the research firms Engagious and Sago — raised concerns about the speed of the DOGE cuts and billionaire Elon Musk's power, while others backed the department's attempt to address a bloated government.
Overall, they remain largely supportive of Trump because they believe he's taken the decisive action he promised on the campaign trail, and 10 of the 12 focus group participants stand by their vote in November, with the remaining two saying they wouldn't vote for Trump again if given a do-over.
These Trump-voting Black men, including some who voted for Joe Biden in 2020, also expressed deep frustration with a rudderless Democratic Party, and were divided on the future of diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
This group included six independents, four Democrats and two Republicans. Five of these voters — the four Democrats and one independent — said they voted for Biden in 2020 before backing Trump in 2024. Unlike a poll, which uses statistical methods to demonstrate how a larger population feels, the focus groups dig deeper into how individual panelists view key questions facing the country.
While 10 of the 12 participants said they approved of Trump's early tenure during his second presidency, the results were far more mixed when it came to Musk and DOGE. Five said they approved of DOGE's actions, three said they disapproved and the rest weren't sure yet.
Among those backing DOGE, the spending audits and cuts were seen as bringing a bit of the private sector to government work, aimed at increasing efficiency of employees paid by taxpayer money.
'Every company needs someone to audit them. You shouldn't be an untouchable, you shouldn't be a sacred cow," said Dorris S., a 56-year-old independent from Pennsylvania. "They're there to maximize productivity and efficiency. I used to manage restaurants, we had health inspectors."
And Illya M., a 37-year-old from Arizona, said that it's time to turn the tables on the federal government.
'They're forcing us to file our taxes, so we're technically doing an audit, so I think everybody should be audited,' he said.
Seven of the 12 participants specifically mentioned the possibility of the Trump administration sending Americans $5,000 checks, with five saying the checks would be funded by DOGE cuts. While Trump and his allies have promoted the idea of sending these 'DOGE dividends,' no decision has been made about whether to do so.
The positive sentiment about DOGE was far from universal, and even those who said they supported its efforts weren't necessarily sold on its implementation.
Illya M. went on to add that he 'heard they got the numbers wrong at some point,' adding, 'I don't see how this is really going to benefit us on a personal basis.'
Among those who disapprove of DOGE's efforts, there were concerns both about Musk's accumulating power and the potential for 'unintended consequences.'
'The volume of the cuts — are there going to be unintended consequences that we didn't see until later down the road?' asked Denzel B., a 37-year-old Democrat from Arizona.
Jeffrey G., a 57-year-old Democrat from Georgia who voted for Biden in 2020 before backing Trump this time, lamented how Trump 'should have gone in with a scalpel instead of a blowtorch.'
'Sure, you want to weed out the bad people that probably are bad people, but you want to keep good employees that are there,' he said.
Thomas A., a 49-year-old Democrat from Georgia who voted for Biden in 2020 and switched to Trump in 2024, said that while DOGE is doing 'some good,' he's concerned about the power Trump has delegated to Musk. He also wondered if DOGE's work could be antithetical to a push to improve the economy and help everyday Americans.
'He's too focused on cutting the weeds and the clutter, but he needs to focus on the economy and how to help people,' he said of Trump.
'Being enthusiastic about DOGE tracks closely with passion for Trump, but passion for Trump doesn't always translate into enthusiasm for DOGE,' said Rich Thau, president of Engagious, who moderated the sessions.
Only three out of 12 participants affirmatively said Trump is making battling inflation a top priority, with those who said so largely connecting it to his threats to enact sweeping tariffs or cut government spending.
But that focus wasn't a positive for Jeffrey G., who disapproves of Trump and wouldn't vote for him again if he could do the 2024 election over, because he doesn't agree with the president's economic moves.
'His way of fighting inflation, it's going to be a painful process," he said, "by making other countries pay their share of tariffs."
Most of the participants, who didn't believe Trump has made fighting inflation a top priority, said they didn't necessarily mind.
'He has his hands in so many different things — I can wait 'til he gets to the six-month point, then I'll start worrying,' said Garland S., a 47-year-old Republican from Michigan.
The sentiment meshes with how most of these men view Trump after two months in office, with broad approval of his job performance because they say he's being 'aggressive' in his follow-through after the campaign.
'I expected him to be aggressive in a lot of different areas and he's doing exactly that," said Dorris S. "Every few days, you're hearing something different and you're constantly seeing him at work, working, getting stuff done. So that's why I approve."
Tariffs are dividing this group, however. They're particularly concerning to those who aren't fully on board with Trump, such as Denzel B. and Jeffrey G., who both disapprove of Trump after voting for him and both raised concerns about tariffs.
But those still on board with Trump largely see the tariffs as the president's way to bludgeon the world economy into submission and, eventually, tackle rising prices at home.
'I did this past four years with this,' Kasheem S., a 38-year-old independent from Pennsylvania, said of inflation. 'If it has to continue on a little bit 'til it balances itself out, then I don't have a problem with that. It's already been going on.'
Illya M. said that he is giving Trump a wide berth to deliver on his promises for a similar reason: He sees Trump as someone who's willing to at least try to make change.
'He did a lot of things — whether it actually happens exactly how he wanted it to happen or not, at least he tried and actually did something. So, that's more than I could say about the Democrats, probably ever,' he said.
Other participants shared that sentiment. 'Liars,' 'untrustworthy,' 'ungodly,' 'a weird agenda' and 'weak' were just a few of the words they used to describe the Democratic Party today.
Democrats make 'a bunch of false promises,' said Kasheem S. He added that he views the Democratic agenda as an attack on children, saying Democrats are 'not really relatable, just trying to sell a dream that's not the reality.'
'I think it's chaos,' said Antonio W., 47, of Arizona. 'Holding onto the past. They got nothing, to me, to promote to the American public.'
The self-described Democrats also had some choice words for their party after splitting with it to vote for Trump last year.
'They're weak and hypocritical,' said Marlon M., a 47-year-old Democrat from Pennsylvania, who advised his party to 'stop pointing the finger' and follow through on its promises.
'Right now, they have a lack of leadership,' said Jeffrey G. 'There's not one lone voice right now for the Democratic Party.'
Some felt that Democrats were not looking out for Black Americans or men. In one panel, all five participants said men do not get a fair shake when Democrats are in charge.
And some criticized Democrats for leaning on leaders like former President Barack Obama or celebrities like Cardi B to win their votes.
'They got Obama up here to talk to us men as if he's in control or something,' said Kasheem S., later adding, 'Stop with all the celebrities. ... A lot was spent on celebrities with that campaign and it did nothing for me.'
Critical of their own party, the Democratic Trump voters in the group did seem open to supporting Republican candidates other than Trump moving forward.
'I think voting for Trump now has opened my eyes to more consideration on a Republican side, just naturally,' said Denzel B., who said Republicans could win him over by continuing to build on Trump's agenda.
Thomas A. said Republicans could win his vote if they prioritize their economic policies and lay out 'how it's going to affect me and my family.'
Margaret Talev — director of Syracuse University's Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship, which leads the focus group project in partnership with Engagious/Sago — told NBC News that the group showed that 'whether their embrace now of President Trump or Elon Musk is strong or conditional, they are united in their mistrust of and disappointment with Democrats as the alternative' and represent the 'deep disillusionment of some male voters of color with the Democratic Party."
As Trump has made dismantling federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs an early focus of his administration, the participants were divided along party lines over whether such programs should continue, reflecting the broad partisan polarization over DEI programs in a recent NBC News poll.
The four Democrats in the focus groups — Denzel B., Marlon M., Thomas A. and Jeffrey G. — were the only participants to say that DEI programs should continue.
'It may not be perfect, but I think it still has to be something in place to combat discrepancies in the workplace,' said Jeffrey G, who lamented that DEI has been used to question the qualifications of people of color.
The rest of the participants said DEI programs should be eliminated.
'Affirmative action never helped me, so I'm cool with not having affirmative action, DEI or any of that,' said Illya M. 'May the best person get the job.'
Two participants also used the same analogy to underscore their opposition to DEI programs.
'If I'm in the hospital, I'm having surgery, I don't care if the doctor's Black, white, Indian,' said Garland S. 'I want the best doctor.'
The participants also weighed in on Trump suggesting, without offering any evidence or support for that position, that DEI policies were to blame for the deadly midair collision between a plane and an Army helicopter in January.
The same participants who supported DEI programs found Trump's comments objectionable, noting the president made those comments without evidence. The other members of the focus groups did not take issue with Trump's suggestion, and one participant sided with the president.
'I wouldn't even be comfortable knowing that they was a DEI hire — I don't wanna be on this plane,' said Illya M. 'So hey, I'm with him 100%.'
The participants were also asked about an effort from some Trump allies, including conservative commentator Ben Shapiro, to encourage the president to pardon former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin, who was convicted of killing George Floyd, a Black man, in 2020. Floyd's death sparked nationwide protests against racism and a national reckoning over race and policing. Chauvin was sentenced on federal and state charges relating to Floyd's death, and Trump could only offer a pardon relating to the federal charges. (Trump, for his part, told reporters earlier this month that he had not heard about the push to pardon Chauvin.)
Several participants said they would be upset if Trump pardoned Chauvin, with Charles B., a 51-year-old Republican from Wake Forest, North Carolina, saying, 'That's a nation that would be pissed.'
But a few appeared open to giving Trump the benefit of the doubt.
'OK, I'm upset,' said Joel A., 65, from Pennsylvania. 'But he might know something that I don't know.'
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Europe to give Iran message that US open to direct talks
By Francois Murphy, John Irish and Parisa Hafezi GENEVA (Reuters) -European foreign ministers will tell their Iranian counterpart on Friday that the U.S. is open to direct talks even as it considers joining Israeli strikes intended to smash Tehran's nuclear capacity, diplomats said before a meeting in Geneva. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will be told that Iran must send a "clear signal," two diplomats told Reuters, with pressure mounting on Tehran to agree tough curbs on its nuclear programme to prevent the potential development of an atomic weapon. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to several Western counterparts prior to the Geneva meeting, the diplomats said, indicating readiness to engage directly with Tehran. Washington did not confirm that, though broadcaster CNN quoted a U.S. official saying President Donald Trump supported diplomacy from allies that could bring Iran closer to a deal. Tehran, however, has repeatedly said it will not talk to the Trump government until Israeli attacks end. The ministers from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, plus the European Union's foreign policy chief, were meeting separately prior to planned face-to-face talks with Araqchi. "The Iranians can't sit down with the Americans whereas we can," said a European diplomat. "We will tell them to come back to the table to discuss the nuclear issue before the worst-case scenario, while raising our concerns over its ballistic missiles, support to Russia and detention of our citizens." The Trump administration is demanding Iran stop uranium enrichment altogether, whereas the E3 have in past talks left it some scope to enrich for civil ends in exchange for extremely strict international inspections of its nuclear activities. On Friday, French President Emmanuel Macron shifted closer to Trump's position, saying that any new deal with Tehran needed to go towards zero enrichment. A senior Iranian official told Reuters Iran is ready to discuss limitations on its uranium enrichment but said the prospect of zero enrichment would undoubtedly be rejected, especially while Israel was attacking Iran. IRAN DEMANDS END TO WAR The talks were due for mid-afternoon in Geneva, where an initial accord between Iran and world powers to curb its nuclear programme in return for sanctions lifting was struck in 2013 before a comprehensive deal in 2015. Separate talks between Iran and the U.S. collapsed when Israel launched what it called Operation Rising Lion against Iran's nuclear facilities and ballistic capabilities on June 12. "There is no room for negotiations with the U.S. until Israeli aggression stops," Araqchi was quoted as saying on Iranian state TV on Friday. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot spoke to Rubio on Thursday night, during which Rubio said Washington was ready for direct contact with the Iranians any time, according to a French diplomatic source. The main message Europeans will pass to Araqchi is that the U.S. has signalled readiness for direct talks, but that Iran must give a serious signal, the two European diplomats said, without defining what the signal should be. Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has spoken to Araqchi several times since last week, sources say. While diplomats did not expect a breakthrough in Geneva, they said it was vital to engage with Iran because once the war stopped the nuclear issue would remain unresolved given that Tehran would still retain the scientific know-how. "Even now, if they have something to say, we will listen," Araqchi said of the Europeans. "We are not ashamed of defending our nation's rights and we are not avoiding anyone." German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said European powers had always been ready to talk provided Iran committed to not developing nuclear weapons. "Now it's Iran's move," he said. Trump has said he will decide within two weeks whether to join Israeli strikes.
Chicago Tribune
27 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Appeals court lets President Donald Trump keep control of National Guard troops deployed to Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — An appeals court on Thursday allowed President Donald Trump to keep control of National Guard troops he deployed to Los Angeles following protests over immigration raids. The decision halts a ruling from a lower court judge who found Trump acted illegally when he activated the soldiers over opposition from California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The deployment was the first by a president of a state National Guard without the governor's permission since 1965. In its decision, a three-judge panel on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously concluded it was likely Trump lawfully exercised his authority in federalizing control of the guard. It said that while presidents don't have unfettered power to seize control of a state's guard, the Trump administration had presented enough evidence to show it had a defensible rationale for doing so, citing violent acts by protesters. 'The undisputed facts demonstrate that before the deployment of the National Guard, protesters 'pinned down' several federal officers and threw 'concrete chunks, bottles of liquid, and other objects' at the officers. Protesters also damaged federal buildings and caused the closure of at least one federal building. And a federal van was attacked by protesters who smashed in the van's windows,' the court wrote. 'The federal government's interest in preventing incidents like these is significant.' It also found that even if the federal government failed to notify the governor of California before federalizing the National Guard as required by law, Newsom had no power to veto the president's order. Trump celebrated the decision on his Truth Social platform, calling it a 'BIG WIN.' He wrote that 'all over the United States, if our Cities, and our people, need protection, we are the ones to give it to them should State and Local Police be unable, for whatever reason, to get the job done.' Newsom issued a statement that expressed disappointment that the court is allowing Trump to retain control of the Guard. But he also welcomed one aspect of the decision. 'The court rightly rejected Trump's claim that he can do whatever he wants with the National Guard and not have to explain himself to a court,' Newsom said. 'The President is not a king and is not above the law. We will press forward with our challenge to President Trump's authoritarian use of U.S. military soldiers against citizens.' The court case could have wider implications on the president's power to deploy soldiers within the United States after Trump directed immigration officials to prioritize deportations from other Democratic-run cities. Trump, a Republican, argued that the troops were necessary to restore order. Newsom, a Democrat, said the move inflamed tensions, usurped local authority and wasted resources. The protests have since appeared to be winding down. Two judges on the appeals panel were appointed by Trump during his first term. During oral arguments Tuesday, all three judges suggested that presidents have wide latitude under the federal law at issue and that courts should be reluctant to step in. The case started when Newsom sued to block Trump's command, and he won an early victory from U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer in San Francisco. Breyer found that Trump had overstepped his legal authority, which he said only allows presidents can take control during times of 'rebellion or danger of a rebellion.' 'The protests in Los Angeles fall far short of 'rebellion,'' wrote Breyer, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton and is brother to retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. The Trump administration, though, argued that courts can't second guess the president's decisions and quickly secured a temporary halt from the appeals court. The ruling means control of the California National Guard will stay in federal hands as the lawsuit continues to unfold.
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
On Juneteenth, Trump says the US has 'too many' holidays
Trump criticized the number of American holidays and claimed they cost billions in productivity. The post was made on Juneteenth, a federal holiday that Trump previously supported. Joe Biden later said making it a federal holiday was "one of the proudest moments of my presidency." Joe Biden has reiterated his support for Juneteenth as a federal holiday, after Donald Trump said America has "too many" of them. "Too many non-working holidays in America," Trump wrote on Truth Social late Thursday. "It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed." The president said that the frequency of holidays "must change" and that workers didn't want them, either. "The workers don't want it either!" he continued. "Soon we'll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!" Juneteenth, held on June 19 every year, commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and has long been celebrated by Black Americans. It became the 11th federal holiday in 2021 with a law signed by then-President Joe Biden. The bill passed with broad bipartisan support, receiving unanimous approval in the Senate and all but 14 votes in the House of Representatives. Biden later posted on X that he had celebrated the day in Texas and that making Juneteenth a federal holiday was "one of the proudest moments of my presidency." "It's a day of liberation. It's a day of remembrance. And it's a day of celebration. Today, it was an honor to be in Galveston where freedom rang out 160 years ago," he said. The White House press office didn't immediately respond to Business a request for comment from Business Insider regarding Trump's Truth Social post. Most federal offices, such as the US Postal Service, are closed during Juneteenth. Markets like the Nasdaq and New York Stock Exchange don't trade during the holiday, either. But whether private companies and state governments remain open varies. Most major banks are closed for the holiday, but not all companies provide paid time off. Earlier on Thursday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a press briefing that the White House was open. When asked by a journalist about commemorating Juneteenth, she said she was "not tracking" Trump's signature on any proclamations for the holiday. "I know this is a federal holiday," she said. "I want to thank all of you for showing up to work. We are certainly here. We're working 24/7 right now." Trump himself supported making Juneteenth a federal holiday in the wake of widespread protests following the killing of George Floyd. "Make Juneteenth a National Holiday" was included among his "Promise to Black America over 4 years" policy proposals in his 2020 presidential campaign. During that campaign, Trump took credit for publicizing Juneteenth after moving one of his rallies from June 19 to June 20 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "I did something good: I made Juneteenth very famous," Trump told The Wall Street Journal at the time. "It's actually an important event, an important time. But nobody had ever heard of it." In the same interview, Trump expressed surprise that his administration had commemorated Juneteenth every year. "Oh really? We put out a statement? The Trump White House put out a statement?" he said, according to the Journal. "OK, OK. Good." The White House did not publish a statement on its website commemorating Juneteenth this year. Read the original article on Business Insider
