Rutgers University's Alex Hinton has studied the Trumpiverse since 2015, where Democrats and Republicans connect and talk. Hinton has spoken with Trump supporters ranging from the Make America Great Again (MAGA) faithful to moderate conservatives. Many on the left fail to understand who Trump voters are and how they vary. Trump voters trend older, white, rural, religious, and less educated but they include others outside those demographic groups.

Many people have thoughtful reasons for voting for Trump, even if their reasoning is often inflamed by populist polarizers and media platforms. Here are five key lines of reasoning that, in varying combinations, inform Trump voters’ choice.

1. Media distortion: Some Trump supporters believe that the left-leaning media dissects Trump’s every word, and the media then distorts what he says. They have found that people who feed too much on this allegedly biased media diet can get TDS and develop a passionate, perhaps illogical dislike of Trump.
2. Bread on the table, money in the bank: For many Trump voters, the answer to Ronald Reagan’s famous question is clear: “No.” They accurately remember Trump’s term as one of tax cuts, economic growth, and stock market highs. However, for some Trump supporters, that economic boost pales in comparison to the massive surge in inflation during Biden’s term, with prices rising almost 20%.
3. A border invasion: Another reason some Americans want to vote for Trump is immigration. The number of people illegally crossing the border soared under Biden. This massive influx of “illegal aliens,” as Trump calls them, dropped to its lowest level in four years in July 2024. This happened after the Biden administration made it harder for immigrants to apply for asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border, a policy measure that is in line with many Republicans’ approach.

In 2022, 82% of Republicans said they viewed immigration as a “very important” issue. Trump continues to tout his proposed solution, which includes shutting the border, building a wall, and deporting 11 million immigrants who are living in the U.S. without legal authorization.

4. A proven record: Some Trump voters simply compare the records of Trump and Biden-Harris and find that the tally tilts firmly toward Trump.

There were no new wars under Trump. Biden-Harris, in contrast, is saddled with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s aggression on  Gaza. Trump supporters’ perception is that American taxpayers foot a large portion of the bill, even though other countries are also giving money to Ukraine, and Israel is actually buying weapons from the U.S.

5. The MAGA bull in a China shop: While some Harris supporters lament Trump’s destruction of democracy and decency in politics, Trump voters see a charismatic MAGA bull in a China shop. It is precisely because Trump is an unrelenting pugilist or a fighter that he should be elected, his supporters believe. Some even view him as a savior – who will save the U.S. from a “radical left” apocalypse.

For such Trump stalwarts, MAGA is not simply a slogan. In the Trumpiverse, it is a movement to save an America that is on the brink of failure.