Machismo, How Trump Won the Latino and Immigrant Male Vote

VugolME Editorial. November 8, 2024. Washington, DC

On November 6, 2024, following the presidential election, the previous article identified the 6 M's—Machismo, Muscle Memory, Mixed Rules, Misinformation, Money, and Messaging—as key factors that contributed to Donald Trump’s victory. Machismo played a significant role in influencing voter behavior, particularly among those who shifted right, beyond the core 45% who consistently supported either party.

The 2024 election results revealed a complex interplay of economic anxieties and cultural undercurrents. Similar to the early 2010s Tea Party movement, which evolved from economic grievances into a vehicle for broader cultural anxieties among white voters, the 2024 election saw inflation and economic uncertainty spark shifts toward Trump. Yet, it was identity politics and machismo that provided the deeper, underlying fuel.

Machismo's influence on young male voters was real with techbros to podcast bros. Among less-educated and low-information men, machismo transcended racial divides. Exit polls showed a dramatic reversal among young men aged 18–29, with Trump winning this demographic 55-42, compared to Biden's 56-41 win in 2020. This shift reflected a backlash against perceived threats to traditional masculinity and an attraction to a strong, authoritarian figure. The Trump campaign crafted a permission structure for those seeking to externalize their grievances.

The blue-collar appeal for unfiltered masculinity, Trump’s brand, struck a particularly deep chord with those without college degrees, helping explain his support in traditionally Democratic union strongholds. His unapologetic stance on hot-button issues attracted voters who appreciated that he was not a cautious, poll-tested politician.

Trump gained significantly in counties with over 25% Hispanic populations, showing a 9.5-point swing from 2020. This shift was particularly pronounced among Latino men, who moved 33 points toward Trump—one of his largest demographic swings.

Despite anti-immigration rhetoric, many established immigrants aligned with Trump’s message, driven by a desire to assimilate into mainstream American society, defined as real America by the right-wing media echo chamber. It's a well known phenomenon that after enduring the arduous U.S. immigration process to obtain Green Card, many immigrants adopt an exclusionary mindset toward newer arrivals, supporting policies perceived as protecting their established status. I'm in, now close the door.

While demographic projections suggest America will become a minority-majority country by 2046, the election results indicate a more complex transition. The structural advantages of perceived whiteness continue to influence social and political dynamics. Many immigrants and their descendants, especially those with lighter skin tones, increasingly identify as white. This process often begins with administrative choices, like racial identification on driver's licenses, and can have profound generational effects. By the second generation, the cognitive dissonance of identifying as white often gives way to being white, mirroring America’s historically fluid definition of whiteness.

That the lingering impact of white colonialism significantly shapes these dynamics is to acknowledge centuries of global white supremacy that have influenced the collective psyche of many immigrant communities, especially men internalizing notions of white superiority.

Vice President Kamala Harris, despite her groundbreaking candidacy, faced challenges rooted in this cultural divide, with her mixed heritage and gender becoming liabilities for voters seeking alignment with perceived male power structures. The different standards applied to Capitol rioters and Trump on legal issues attracted, rather than repelled, some immigrant community members. The underlying sentiment was: Even if I can not assimilate at the MAGA rallies, then I will at the voting booth, voting like a white man meant being like a white man.

White ethnocentrism and immigrant alignment were previously unimagined, but Trump’s supporters amplified the sense of unfettered machismo, drawing not only white voters but also immigrants who saw whiteness as a path to higher social and economic status. Ironically, Vice President Harris became a symbol of the diversity some voters sought to distance themselves from.

Among major demographic blocks, only Black women proved resistant to Trump’s machismo appeal. Their steadfast opposition demonstrated the power of intersectional awareness and community-oriented politics. In rejecting Trump’s brand of masculinity, Black women voters, who have had to always struggel, emerged as the strongest defenders of progressive value.

This election result becomes clearer when examining how the other M’s amplified the Machismo factor on the role of Muscle Memory, Mixed Rules, Misinformation, Money, and Messaging. The Muscle Memory of party loyalty provided institutional backing for Trump’s strongman appeal. Mixed Rules normalized his behavior while subjecting his opponents to stricter scrutiny. Misinformation reinforced traditional gender roles and cultural hierarchies. Money from wealthy backers legitimized his authority-figure status. And his Messaging successfully marketed this masculine persona across cultural and ethnic lines.

Young men aged 18–29 swung dramatically toward Trump, Latino men shifted 33 points in his direction, and established immigrants increasingly aligned with his vision of American identity. These shifts were not merely about policy preferences but reflected a deeper desire to associate with perceived power and traditional authority. It remains to be seen if this was a realignment or a deviation but it was just matter of time the ingrained machismo would play out in voting booth for the Latino men.

As America celebrates and grapples with Trump’s return to power, the implications of this election extend beyond partisan politics. His campaign revealed how ingrained notions of masculine authority and white identity persist in American society, even as demographic changes reshape the nation’s population. Leveraging these cultural forces, combined with modern campaign techniques and institutional support, proved decisive in determining America’s political future.

The gravitational pull of white male authority continues to reshape immigrant identity and political alignment, raising the question of whether alternative forms of political organization will emerge to challenge this hierarchical vision of American society.

What’s clear is that understanding Trump’s victory requires examining the deep cultural and psychological forces shaping American identity. The 6 M’s framework, particularly the role of Machismo, provides crucial insights into how power, identity, and authority continue to influence American democracy in the 21st century.

As the drumbeat of Trump, Trump, Trump reverberates through American society for another four years, these dynamics will likely intensify rather than diminish. The project of maintaining white male dominance has found new life through an unlikely coalition of traditional conservatives and assimilation-seeking immigrants. Whether this marks a lasting realignment or a temporary deviation remains to be seen, but its immediate impact on American democracy is undeniable.

This resurgence of machismo is also likely to affect Trump’s opposition, leaving many cowed and others adopting a more passive stance. The dominance of masculine authority may lead some political opponents to hesitate in challenging Trump directly, while others may struggle to effectively counter his influence, resulting in a weakened and fragmented opposition.

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Machismo, How Trump Won the Latino and Immigrant Male Vote

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