Hispanic voters are turning on Trump. Italian Americans seem to be sticking with him. Here’s why

WASHINGTON — Hispanic voters, at least according to the polls, are regretting their role in helping Donald Trump return to the White House and are preparing to punish him in the midterm elections. But what about Italian Americans, a majority of whom also voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election? Not quite the same story, judging by the atmosphere at the National Italian American Foundation’s 51st anniversary celebrations, held a few days ago in Washington. Among those attending were the foundation’s president, Robert Allegrini, Italian Ambassador Marco Peronaci, the Vatican’s apostolic nuncio to the United States, Gabriele Caccia, and former CIA director Leon Panetta. A shift towards conservatism Relations between Italy and the United States are stronger than the ties between their leaders and transcend political or personal disputes, as former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pointed out. Italian American voters, however, have become increasingly conservative in recent years. The 3 November elections will be a test of whether a shift similar to the disillusionment now seen among Hispanic voters is also taking place within the Italian American community. “Separating the noise from the signal” Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took part in a discussion with former Italian foreign minister Angelino Alfano, stressing that relations between leaders inevitably go through ups and downs. “After all, we all know President Trump. Tomorrow afternoon we may be the best of friends, and then, who knows, by Monday things may already have changed.” He continued: “From a philosophical standpoint, it is important to separate the noise from the signal — to distinguish political controversies from what really matters. I see many positive aspects to our relationship, whether in trade, the economy and security, or in culture. We must build on that and strengthen our ties, including through an urgent increase in defence investment.” The midterm vote Italian Americans, too, must decide where to place their vote in the 3 November midterms. In the past, when they were still relative newcomers to America, they tended to support the Democrats, following a pattern common to many ethnic communities in the United States. The Democratic Party was more welcoming and attentive to the needs of newcomers, championing their rights and helping them integrate into American society. As immigrant communities gradually found their place, gained acceptance and achieved economic success, however, they began to gravitate towards the Republicans, seeking to protect the advantages, privileges and even wealth they had acquired. Hispanic voters’ disillusionment Italian Americans have followed much the same trajectory. In the most recent elections, however, they showed a marked preference for Trump, partly because of his positions on social and identity issues. Hispanic voters also backed Trump, but polls suggest they have since become disillusioned and are now preparing to turn away from the Republicans in the midterms. It remains unclear whether Italian Americans, who may now be more conservative than Hispanic voters, particularly on social issues, are undergoing a similar shift. The 3 November vote will help answer that question. For now, however, those who follow the community closely have the impression that Americans of Italian descent are not yet ready to change course by abandoning the Republican Party to express their dissatisfaction and disappointment with Trump.