The Current They both voted for Trump: one regrets it, the other is all in
Feb 25, 2026
John Palema, a Massachusetts masonry owner and three-time Trump voter who prioritizes immigration and labor concerns. Pablo Payan, an Indiana general contractor who voted Trump then regretted it over immigration and economic fallout. Paul Hunter, a Washington correspondent who analyzes presidential messaging and political strategy. They discuss the State of the Union, immigration enforcement, labor-market effects in construction, and political calculations for midterm voters.
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Trump's State Of The Union Relies On Repetition
- Donald Trump's State of the Union repeated an upbeat 'trust me' economic message to persuade voters.
- Paul Hunter notes Trump emphasized 'greatest hits' like tariffs and inflation falling, framing gains as his doing despite complex causes.
Contractor Pablo Payan Regrets His Trump Vote
- Pablo Payan, a once-Democrat turned Trump voter in Merrillville, says he voted for jobs and 'America first' policies.
- After a year he regrets it because of wide deportations, tariffs hurting trade, and racial profiling in immigration enforcement.
Border Enforcement Can Lose Its Proponents
- Latino swing voters like Pablo supported Trump for border control but became alienated by tactics they view as racially profiling.
- He wanted enforcement focused on violent criminals and employers who exploit undocumented workers instead of broad sweeps.