“I Voted for Trump Because”: What These 3 Black Southern Voters Have to Say Now
In a rare conversation with Van Jones, three Black voters from the Carolinas explain why they supported Donald Trump—and why they’re not looking back.
Since Donald Trump returned to office earlier this year, stories of voter regret have become a steady drumbeat from supporters who say they feel blindsided by the policies they thought would help them and some they didn’t think would happen to them at all.
From rollbacks and cuts in education, healthcare, civil rights, and financial assistance, a second Trump term has reminded many that his campaign promises rarely line up with protecting the American people. It’s something that many Black people already understood and tried to avoid when voting against this president time and again.
However, while many Black voters say they saw the writing on the wall, a small but steady number of Black folks say they voted for him not once, but twice — and they’d do it again without blinking.
According to CNN, Trump received 8% of the Black vote in 2016, which crept upward in 2020 (12%) and again in 2024 (13%), settling in the low double digits. It’s a sliver, but it’s still loud enough to warrant attention, especially in the South, where tight margins can swing whole states.
Perhaps this other side of the story is what brought CNN’s Van Jones to Greenville, South Carolina, where he sat down with three Black Trump voters — Seth Dawkins, Detra German, and Kyasia Kraft — to hear in their own words, what made them vote red, what keeps them loyal to Trump, and why, even now as his policies are beginning to impact them, they’re not second-guessing a thing.
Trump, Candace Owens, and TikTok: A Holy Ground
Detra German, a project manager in Greenville, who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016, credits her political shift to conservative commentator Candace Owens. “I began listening to someone — and that was Candace Owens. I read her book. It just opened my eyes,” she told Jones.
Seth Dawkins, a general manager and small business owner from Spartanburg, says he appreciates Trump’s unfiltered style. “Part of it is he’s an asshole. I like authenticity,” he said. A former Democrat who once voted for Joe Biden, Dawkins now calls himself a proud Trump supporter.
It was also Dawkins’ remarks about his media consumption that raised Jones’ eyebrows. “TikTok is like a holy ground,” he said, explaining that he gets most of his information not from traditional outlets but from social media and online clips.
“They’re listening to people who don’t know what the hell they’re talking about,” Roland Martin said on a recent segment. “How do you counter that level of stupidity?”
Martin also pointed out that while people who consume traditional news sources tended to vote for Kamala Harris, “those who got their information from non-news sources voted for Trump.”
That claim is backed by research. A study by the Civic Health and Institutions Project found that “friends and family” had become the leading source of election information, surpassing traditional media. With platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and podcasts becoming primary sources of political content for younger and working-class voters, the data suggests that decentralized, often unvetted information contributed significantly to Trump’s 2024 support — especially in the South.
It’s Been A Slap in the Face, But I Don’t Care
Before addressing their opinions on policy, Jones asked these voters what they really think about Trump’s cuts to Black programs and institutions.
From gutting DEI initiatives and historic preservation grants to defunding the National Endowment for the Humanities, Trump’s second term has included the rollback of several protections and resources directly impacting Black communities. That includes grant defunding for places like the Harriet Tubman Museum and suspension of certain civil rights enforcement efforts.
When asked specifically about these decisions, Dawkins said: “In some ways it’s a slap in the face. In other ways, I don’t care. I care more about how I’m going to take care of my children.”
Kyasia Kraft, a property assistant based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Vice Chair for the Mecklenburg County Young Republicans, agreed: “I don’t think the average American cares about that,” she said. “That doesn’t impact how I’m going to pay my bills.”
I’m Tired of Black People Complaining
One of the most jarring moments came when Kraft criticized what she described as constant victimhood in the Black community.
“I am sick and tired of seeing Black people sit there and complain about something, but not taking action steps to actually try to change things,” she said.
Kraft, whose husband is white and is training to become a police officer, also expressed frustration when asked about how Trump’s proposed policy on immunity for police might impact Black people, arguing that there’s negativity toward law enforcement, too. “Even the best ones get hatred,” she said.
Roland Martin, who’s been organizing and reporting on Black political movements for over two decades, sounded off: “Would you like us to do the roll call of Black people who have been killed by cops?” he asked. “You want to act like nothing’s being done, but entire movements have formed to push for justice. Don’t sit here and say Black people aren’t trying to change anything.”
Still, These Southerners Have No Regrets
Despite Trump’s ongoing legal troubles and sweeping policy changes, all three voters said they would back him again.
“1,000%,” Kraft said.
“Absolutely yes,” German added.
Dawkins echoed them both with a simple, “Yes.”
When asked about Trump’s repeated hints at seeking a third term — something clearly prohibited by the Constitution — Kraft brushed it off. “This is a prime example of him trolling people,” she said.
But Martin warned that this is not something to take lightly: “We’re playing footsie with fascism again,” he warned. “Every time he says something outrageous, people say, ‘Oh he’s not serious.’ But the last time we did that, his words turned into policy.”
As we await 2028, the reality is that while most Black voters say they’ve got to suffer with the bad on what a second Trump term really means, others like Kraft, German, and Dawkins say they’re standing by their choice — and they’re not looking back.
But if I’m honest — you can’t outrun a storm by pretending it’s not there. And nowhere does that truth hit harder than in the South.
13 & South is a new publication covering news, investigative stories, and insights on social justice, policy, and systemic inequities impacting Southern Black communities. I value your insights and feedback, and invite your perspectives to contribute to future issues. Please email me at editor@13thandsouth.com. Also, feel free to connect with me on my socials! LinkedIn, Twitter, IG, BlueSky, and Threads.
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