The U.S. Economy, the Southern Border, Oct. 7: How 13 Biden and Trump Voters Saw 2023

John, 46, Asian/Pacific Islander, Ohio, Trump 2020 voter, health care

Tumultuous.

Marie, 48, white, Illinois, Biden 2020 voter, assistant director of a nonprofit

Chaotic.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

Perilous

Joe, 37, white, Arkansas, Trump 2020 voter, policy analyst

Expensive.

Chelsea, 35, white, Arizona, Biden 2020 voter, stay-at-home mom

Stressful.

Betsy, 42, white, Colorado, Trump 2020 voter, medical sales

A roller coaster.

Angela, 56, Black, California, Biden 2020 voter, referral specialist

Heartbreaking.

Marie, 48, white, Illinois, Biden 2020 voter, assistant director of a nonprofit

Having two wars going on at the same time is very depressing.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

I don’t even recognize my nation anymore. We’ve been kidnapped by extremes on the right and the left, and both political parties exploit this for fundraising and to win elections.

Sean, 39, white, Georgia, Biden 2020 voter, photographer

Like Paul just pointed out, we’re pawns, and we’re being shown we’re pawns.

Chelsea, 35, white, Arizona, Biden 2020 voter, stay-at-home mom

At least during Covid there was an understanding that people were struggling financially. Now the narrative has shifted to the fact that we’re having a good economy and unemployment is down, when, in all reality, those are numbers that don’t really have anything to do with how most of us are living.

Joe, 37, white, Arkansas, Trump 2020 voter, policy analyst

Illegal immigration has gotten out of control.

Matthew, 62, white, Virginia, Biden 2020 voter, financial planner

Well, on balance, I think the country’s been a whole lot worse off in the past. The economy here is pretty good. We have fairly disastrous political divisions, but it’s better now than it was in 2020, for example, or 2021.

Deborah, 51, white, Tennessee, Biden 2020 voter, self-employed

The country’s kind of calm, compared to what it was. I’m a bit of an optimist. Ask me next year. I’ll probably be frightened as hell.

Matthew, 62, white, Virginia, Biden 2020 voter, financial planner

Recovering.

Angela, 56, Black, California, Biden 2020 voter, referral specialist

Bouncing back.

Christian, 24, Latino, D.C., Trump 2020 voter, social media manager

Unsustainable.

Chris, 59, Black, Michigan, Biden 2020 voter, electrical engineer

Optimistic.

Deborah, 51, white, Tennessee, Biden 2020 voter, self-employed

Upward.

Chelsea, 35, white, Arizona, Biden 2020 voter, stay-at-home mom

Deceptive.

Joe, 37, white, Arkansas, Trump 2020 voter, policy analyst

Uncertain.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

Hit or miss.

Sean, 39, white, Georgia, Biden 2020 voter, photographer

Regressive.

Marie, 48, white, Illinois, Biden 2020 voter, assistant director of a nonprofit

Recovering.

Bobbie, 63, Middle Eastern, Nevada, Biden 2020 voter, dog walker

Security.

John, 46, Asian/Pacific Islander, Ohio, Trump 2020 voter, health care

Haves and have-nots.

Marie, 48, white, Illinois, Biden 2020 voter, assistant director of a nonprofit

Inflation is getting better.

Angela, 56, Black, California, Biden 2020 voter, referral specialist

Well, I’m here in California, and it’s been great to see the gas prices have gone down. Unemployment rates are down. I see more people working. Yes, there are still people that are trying to bounce back from the pandemic. And I was one of those as well, but I feel like I’m in a better place. I see it around my neighborhood. I see it with family members.

Deborah, 51, white, Tennessee, Biden 2020 voter, self-employed

Infrastructure, jobs.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

I spend my professional life working with college-board young people. Too many of my students do not have a sense of hope about the future. I’m 62 years old. I’m at the top of my scale as a schoolteacher. My wife has a superb job. If you’re 21 years old in Jackson County, Ore., and trying to start out and make a living for yourself, you have a very, very tall hill to climb.

John, 46, Asian/Pacific Islander, Ohio, Trump 2020 voter, health care

Every day, I go out downtown, I see more and more homeless folks, more folks asking for help.

Chelsea, 35, white, Arizona, Biden 2020 voter, stay-at-home mom

We have no affordable housing. Here in Phoenix, we had a record number of homeless and unsheltered deaths this summer because people had nowhere to go in the 115-degree heat.

Christian, 24, Latino, D.C., Trump 2020 voter, social media manager

I described the economy as unsustainable because we’re approaching a near $34 trillion debt. If you’re well set in your career, have a good savings or work for a company that’s been able to adjust for inflation, then you’re riding it out OK. But for somebody like myself, for example, who just got married, owning a home is something that’s going to take many years for me to do. It’s just me and my wife right now, so we can deal with the $200 to $300 bill to buy food for one week. But once you add one or two children, which will come very soon, that becomes a much more expensive bill that may not be sustainable for so long.

Chris, 59, Black, Michigan, Biden 2020 voter, electrical engineer

I’d probably start out by saying, America, it’s still a big melting pot. It’s very diverse, but there is more of a division between classes

Betsy, 42, white, Colorado, Trump 2020 voter, medical sales

So I have three young kids. My oldest is 10. I tell them it’s still a country that is probably one of the freest countries in terms of if you want to achieve something and you put your head down and you just go after it, you can achieve it. I think, unfortunately, the government has gotten way too involved in tilting the scales in favor of companies or different groups. I have three Caucasian boys. And I feel for them because I think there’s a scale being tilted against, unfortunately, Caucasian boys.

Angela, 56, Black, California, Biden 2020 voter, referral specialist

I would definitely tell them, this is still the greatest country of them all. I’m 56 years old, and I’ve been voting since I was able to vote. I remind them of the importance of voting. I have one son who said, in 2020, “Why vote? Nothing’s going to change.” I said, “You can’t have that attitude. You have to vote. Your voice does matter. Speak and scream it as loud as you possibly can.” And we always had a hope for change.

Sean, 39, white, Georgia, Biden 2020 voter, photographer

We’re preconditioned to instant gratification. We have so much excess and access that we’re caught between too much information, boredom and too much unbridled emotion. And nobody in that climate gets what they want. And the loudest voices are getting the spotlight on both sides. And that’s making us all think everyone’s crazy.

Sean, 39, white, Georgia, Biden 2020 voter, photographer

I don’t think so, but I think that crazy sells across the headlines. And I think both sides realize that.

Deborah, 51, white, Tennessee, Biden 2020 voter, self-employed

Yes, when Ohio and Wisconsin went ahead and said that their states have freedom of choice for women. Inflation, politics, whatever don’t matter if women don’t have a choice — what’s the point? We’re living in tyranny.

Chris, 59, Black, Michigan, Biden 2020 voter, electrical engineer

We’ve just gone too damn far with impeding upon people’s rights. For a lady, that is her right.

Bobbie, 63, Middle Eastern, Nevada, Biden 2020 voter, dog walker

Guys get to walk away.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

I am proud of my nation’s support of Ukraine. I see that as a cause that is absolutely essential to the national security of the United States — making the right decision so we don’t make stupid decisions like the United States did in the 1930s and found itself in a global war, with little or no preparation.

Angela, 56, Black, California, Biden 2020 voter, referral specialist

I think that the U.S. should focus on what’s going on here at home. We need the funds to take care of our homelessness and many other issues.

Christian, 24, Latino, D.C., Trump 2020 voter, social media manager

We need to keep putting pressure on European countries to pay more from their end. We can’t guarantee to the taxpayer that our aid is being spent on the right stuff.

Joe, 37, white, Arkansas, Trump 2020 voter, policy analyst

Just seeing how our border has become a joke.

Betsy, 42, white, Colorado, Trump 2020 voter, medical sales

I think the fallout from Oct. 7, to see the rot of the education system in this country and the ugliness that’s come out of it — the pro-Hamas rallies. I’m not necessarily pro-Israel, but the ignorance I’m seeing is kind of horrifying.

Matthew, 62, white, Virginia, Biden 2020 voter, financial planner

I’m going to go with a major presidential candidate quoting three war-criminal Communist dictators in a campaign speech and not immediately being shut down by the entire country. That’s pretty bad.

Matthew, 62, white, Virginia, Biden 2020 voter, financial planner

Donald John Trump.

Matthew, 62, white, Virginia, Biden 2020 voter, financial planner

Let’s say Jimmy Carter had said that or Ronald Reagan. Their support would have gone to zero, bupkis. And people were cheering him. I was just flabbergasted, absolutely flabbergasted.

Chelsea, 35, white, Arizona, Biden 2020 voter, stay-at-home mom

The worst moment for me was Biden doubling down on his support for Israel. The U.S. taxpayer is funding genocide in Palestine, and Biden is a war criminal for continuing to support Israel.

Christian, 24, Latino, D.C., Trump 2020 voter, social media manager

If Israel was trying to commit a genocide, they would have done it already because they have the capacity to. But on the question of what was the worst moment of 2023, I think it was the indictments against President Trump. They’re trying to criminalize the First Amendment.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

The worst moment for me was attempting to explain to my students why they should continue to trust in the United States when the leader for the Republican nomination for president seems to go lower and lower and lower and lower. I’m old enough to remember the greatest president of my lifetime, Ronald Reagan, who I walked precincts for and cast my first vote for. He said character counts. Character counts. And if the Republican Party can’t understand that, then they are going to reap what they have sown — if not in 2024, in the very near future.

Matthew, 62, white, Virginia, Biden 2020 voter, financial planner

I think he’s a better candidate than Trump. But I think Nikki Haley will become the eventual Republican nominee, and I think Biden is very beatable by anybody other than Trump.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

I would vote for Biden because he’s not Donald Trump. But Biden is facing the headwinds of people’s perception that the economy is bad. There is the whole issue of him being too old. And inflation is going to take him down. This feels more like the 1970s than 2023.

Angela, 56, Black, California, Biden 2020 voter, referral specialist

I think age does play a part. I think the stress with economics and things going on with his son are definitely weighing on him. He’s been in politics a very long time, but I think he’s ready to retire.

Betsy, 42, white, Colorado, Trump 2020 voter, medical sales

As a daughter of somebody who has Alzheimer’s, I watched my dad, who’s similar in age to Biden. And they have very similar mannerisms and characteristics. I cannot trust somebody who has even a minuscule amount of cognitive impairment to run the free country. And I’m not a Donald Trump — I’m not voting for him.

Chris, 59, Black, Michigan, Biden 2020 voter, electrical engineer

I’m not completely happy with Joe Biden as a leader. I think he made a lot of promises, the things that just didn’t come to fruition. And I think there’s some cognitive degeneration there. Donald Trump, I got to say that I had a lot of hope for him. He wasn’t my candidate, but I thought, “You know what? This guy has a chance to really do some good things.” And now I don’t know. I mean, the guy’s just off the deep end. And to this day, it just astonishes me that people can’t see through the smoke screen. Is he that charismatic that he just gets people in a trance and they’ll follow him right off the cliff, or what is it? I just don’t get it.

Joe, 37, white, Arkansas, Trump 2020 voter, policy analyst

Well, for starters, he has said he would sign the bill banning sex-change operations on kids. That’s a solid answer. We had a wall constructed. He says he will engage in the strongest deportation program since Eisenhower. That’s something. Those are specific things.

Chris, 59, Black, Michigan, Biden 2020 voter, electrical engineer

How many sex-change operations are going to affect you or me or the economy? It’s one of those things where somebody takes ahold of a really minuscule topic and they blow it out of proportion because they have these people who are just scared. Let’s get away from the nonsense of small things. They don’t impact me. They don’t impact you. We talk about walls. The hell with the wall, for crying out loud. Do you know how long we’ve been constructing walls? It ain’t working.

Joe, 37, white, Arkansas, Trump 2020 voter, policy analyst

I have to disagree on that. There is a caveat to the immigration issue because there is a financial cost to it. That being said, my issues with the two candidates are cognitive impairment with Biden and a megalomaniac with Trump.

Chris, 59, Black, Michigan, Biden 2020 voter, electrical engineer

I don’t disagree with that. I’m not happy with the American system of government, period. Has this system really benefited me? I’m a productive citizen, educated, a big wage earner. I’m not so selfish that I’m only going to look out for myself. I want everyone to do well. This is the richest nation in the world, but guess what? We have homeless people everywhere. Then we get to these situations where we give billions to other nations to fight their wars.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

I can give you 5,900 reasons why you should worry about Russia, 5,900 reasons why you should worry about Russia. It’s called their nuclear inventory. I can tell you why Vladimir Putin says he’s not at war with Ukraine. He’s at war with the United States and the West.

Chelsea, 35, white, Arizona, Biden 2020 voter, stay-at-home mom

I voted for Biden in the last election, and I will not be voting for him again, regardless of if he’s the Democratic nominee, because of immigration, Israel and Palestine.

Sean, 39, white, Georgia, Biden 2020 voter, photographer

There’s this sanctimonious voice from the Democrats and the left. They always say, “Here’s the solution. Here’s the solution. Do this good stuff.” But they never see the backlash. It’s always a very one-sided street. And voting for Biden again, that’s like, “Please, sir, can I have another?” No. The last three years have been hell.

Deborah, 51, white, Tennessee, Biden 2020 voter, self-employed

Democracy is at stake, period. It’s so frightening. I want to maintain a democracy, even though women’s rights are out the door.

Bobbie, 63, Middle Eastern, Nevada, Biden 2020 voter, dog walker

It started off with the Jan. 6 attack. They were whipped up into action by this crazy man. We’ve opened Pandora’s box that it’s OK not to productively debate and disagree but to take arms.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

We are one election away from losing this country’s democratic and free institutions. I’m afraid that Donald Trump will win and punish anybody in terms of political dissent. He would set up a far more authoritarian approach to American government than we’ve ever seen in this nation before.

Christian, 24, Latino, D.C., Trump 2020 voter, social media manager

Donald Trump is not my first choice for president, but the idea that Trump is the threat to democracy is laughable. When we went through the pandemic, who was it that was shutting down your businesses, forcing you to take vaccines in order to stay employed, preventing you from being able to travel unless you had your vaccine passports? That was Democrats. Donald Trump didn’t do enough to rein in people like Dr. Fauci. He could have used emergency powers the way a ton of other Democrats did, like Gavin Newsom did, like Governor Whitmer did.

Matthew, 62, white, Virginia, Biden 2020 voter, financial planner

Donald Trump has said out loud exactly what he wants to do to all of our governmental institutions. He wants to change the entire way that civil servants are hired and fired. They’re going to take loyalty tests. That’s exactly what Mussolini did. These are steps that have destroyed democratic governments.

Joe, 37, white, Arkansas, Trump 2020 voter, policy analyst

People talk about fascism. F.D.R., a Democrat, put people in concentration camps just because they were Japanese. And the history looks lovely upon F.D.R. If Trump were to put people of a certain descent into concentration camps, y’all be causing the riots.

Sean, 39, white, Georgia, Biden 2020 voter, photographer

We’re conditioned to do that. All of our hopes and dreams are bundled into one person now, no matter which side you’re on. That’s exactly where they want us. That’s exactly where they got us.

Betsy, 42, white, Colorado, Trump 2020 voter, medical sales

I think a lot of us agree on what the problems are in this country. We completely disagree on how to solve the problems, and we’re not willing to have conversations with each other on how to actually solve the problems that we actually agree upon. And the larger the government, the smaller the citizen. We feel incredibly small and ignored.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

First of all, we’ve forgotten how to have political discourse in this country. It never was perfect, but civics, which I teach, is becoming more and more difficult to teach because of the demands that are made on teachers to go in a variety of different directions. I’m a professional. I try to do my best, and I try to treat kids with compassion and kindness, but ultimately, I want them to know how their nation works. Secondly, it is, with me, somewhat personal with Donald Trump, but like I say, I was trained as a historian. I’ve read this book before. And I know how it ends if certain things don’t happen. I really feel, in some ways, we’re in the 1930s again. And we’re looking at free institutions — not only in this nation but around the world — being challenged by people that just simply sell a bill of goods with the loudest voice so they can have power.

Chris, 59, Black, Michigan, Biden 2020 voter, electrical engineer

When I hear a candidate basically tell me what he’s going to do, which means it’s going to ruin our democracy, that’s what scares me.

Marie, 48, white, Illinois, Biden 2020 voter, assistant director of a nonprofit

Biden pushed me away when he started working on the wall again, when he had said, “I will not work on the wall.”

Chelsea, 35, white, Arizona, Biden 2020 voter, stay-at-home mom

Yeah, I would say that’s absolutely part of it. He didn’t cancel student loan debt. He continues to support Israel.

Deborah, 51, white, Tennessee, Biden 2020 voter, self-employed

On the student loan thing, my student loan was forgiven. I just wanted to make that comment. But he really hasn’t touted what he has done. It’s been a lot of focus on what he hasn’t done.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

Given a choice between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, I’d vote for Nikki Haley. I don’t think she’s run a perfect campaign. I think that the G.O.P. has deeply swilled on the MAGA Kool-Aid.

Sean, 39, white, Georgia, Biden 2020 voter, photographer

DeSantis looked kind of appealing, but it’s — I don’t know. I consider myself a moderate with some conservative values. I think he’s actually a little bit too far conservative. I don’t like the extremes either way because that’s why we keep getting here. I would go for somebody more moderate.

John, 46, Asian/Pacific Islander, Ohio, Trump 2020 voter, health care

I would have liked DeSantis if he didn’t seem so stilted. He’s too rehearsed for my tastes.

Betsy, 42, white, Colorado, Trump 2020 voter, medical sales

I will not be voting for him this cycle. But it just seems like what’s supposed to be blind justice is not blind anymore. It seems like everybody’s just jumping on the bandwagon to add a charge to it, which I think is backfiring because I think, unfortunately, for me, as a voter, it’s bolstering his support, which I really dislike.

Matthew, 62, white, Virginia, Biden 2020 voter, financial planner

Oh, thanks for that. Honestly, if I could speak directly to him, I would say, “Have you no shame?”

Angela, 56, Black, California, Biden 2020 voter, referral specialist

I would say, “Remember, you are supposed to be the president for all” and “turn down the chaos.”

Christian, 24, Latino, D.C., Trump 2020 voter, social media manager

“Drop out and endorse Ron DeSantis.”

Chris, 59, Black, Michigan, Biden 2020 voter, electrical engineer

“Stop the divisiveness, and let’s get things better for everyone in this country.”

Betsy, 42, white, Colorado, Trump 2020 voter, medical sales

“Please bow out. You’re the best get-out-the-vote machine for the Democratic Party.”

Deborah, 51, white, Tennessee, Biden 2020 voter, self-employed

“Just have some dignity. Walk away.”

Sean, 39, white, Georgia, Biden 2020 voter, photographer

I would tell him, “Don’t leave any of these questions unanswered, whether it’s Sean Hannity or anyone else asking about limitations of power and surrendering in the term. Answer those directly. Also, don’t make this second term, if you get it, a revenge tour. Make it a real ‘Make America great for the first time,’ because we have to have two sides that want peace.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

“People like you have a very hard fall ahead of them.”

Joe, 37, white, Arkansas, Trump 2020 voter, policy analyst

“Keep up the good work. Don’t let the detractors get at you.”

Chelsea, 35, white, Arizona, Biden 2020 voter, stay-at-home mom

I would say, “Thank you for getting the progressive side of things riled up enough to get out in the streets and demand what we deserve for Black people and Muslim people, Palestinian people.” Americans are very tamped down about protesting, and because of his BS, people got back out in the streets.

Marie, 48, white, Illinois, Biden 2020 voter, assistant director of a nonprofit

“Please don’t run again.”

Bobbie, 63, Middle Eastern, Nevada, Biden 2020 voter, dog walker

“Please go away and let someone else have a chance at this office.”

John, 46, Asian/Pacific Islander, Ohio, Trump 2020 voter, health care

“Mr. President, you’re going to have to let go of 2020. You have a competitor ahead of you that doesn’t know what he’s doing. If you want to actually make America great again, you’re going to have to put your ego aside. The choice is yours.”

Marie, 48, white, Illinois, Biden 2020 voter, assistant director of a nonprofit

“Let somebody else run, but if you do run, I will support you.”

Sean, 39, white, Georgia, Biden 2020 voter, photographer

If he really wants what’s best for his party, “You gotta let somebody else step in.” He’s not going to have a good run at this point.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

“Mr. President, you and I are oil and water politically, but I thank you for helping American democracy survive another four years.”

Joe, 37, white, Arkansas, Trump 2020 voter, policy analyst

“Please retire. You deserve it.”

Chelsea, 35, white, Arizona, Biden 2020 voter, stay-at-home mom

I would say, “We need a permanent cease-fire between Israel and Palestine, and we need to divest American money from the Israeli military.”

Deborah, 51, white, Tennessee, Biden 2020 voter, self-employed

I’d say, “Thanks, Joe, for forgiving my student loan.” And I would say, “You’ve been great, and I appreciate all your service, and I wish they would leave Hunter alone, too, because it’s really pointless. It’s like Hillary and her tapes. But bow out and let someone else stand up. Bow out.”

Chris, 59, Black, Michigan, Biden 2020 voter, electrical engineer

I’d say, “Let’s concentrate more on improving the lives of Americans. Let’s focus less on spending money outside of the country.”

Christian, 24, Latino, D.C., Trump 2020 voter, social media manager

I would encourage him to participate in every single debate and campaign rally that he can possibly do because the more he has to defend his record and speak in public, the less Americans will want to support him.

Angela, 56, Black, California, Biden 2020 voter, referral specialist

I would say, “Thank you for your many years of service in politics. Go home. Enjoy your wife. Enjoy your life.”

Betsy, 42, white, Colorado, Trump 2020 voter, medical sales

Politics is downstream from culture. And I don’t see culture, as a whole, making positive changes. So I think we’re going to become more divisive. If you’ve watched the movie “Idiocracy,” I think we’re kind of heading in that direction. So until our culture decides we want to heal as a people, politicians just react to what culture does.

Christian, 24, Latino, D.C., Trump 2020 voter, social media manager

I think there will be a greater embrace of more liberal and secular values. By 2030, we’ll be in a much weaker position in the world, greater economic crises and, more importantly than anything else, like Betsy said, cultural decay and rot.

Paul, 62, white, Oregon, Biden 2020 voter, high school teacher

I will choose to be optimistic because I’m in the optimism business. We will have a nation that is still the last best hope of Earth, as Mr. Lincoln said, if nothing else because people like me, as educators, are going to light fires under the asses of young people, so they have some idea about why they should continue to believe in this nation, work for this nation and love this nation, whether they are from the right or from the left.

Chelsea, 35, white, Arizona, Biden 2020 voter, stay-at-home mom

I think that we are going to see a revolution and that my optimism lies within the young people as well, knowing that they’re not going to stand for what we’ve stood for for so long. And I believe that we’re going to see a move away from white supremacy, colonialism, individualism and make more space for things like mutual aid and abolition.

Chelsea, 35, white, Arizona, Biden 2020 voter, stay-at-home mom

I think that we’re being forced into having a violent revolution because of how cops respond to protesters.

Chris, 59, Black, Michigan, Biden 2020 voter, electrical engineer

I think the divisiveness is going to improve. I’m relying upon some of the young folks who haven’t been tainted. I think that their ability to think out of the box, to organize, is going to be pivotal. And I think they’re going to see through some of these smoke screens and actually elect people who they think are going to do the right thing, so I’m optimistic.