A group of young undecided voters expressed disappointment in former President Donald Trump’s campaign and his surprisingly “weak” demeanor following the latest presidential debate. The 14 voters shared their thoughts with The New York Times, highlighting concerns about Trump’s inner circle and his debate performance against Vice President Kamala Harris.
Lillian, a 27-year-old Virginian who supported Trump in 2020, was initially excited when Trump announced J.D. Vance as his running mate. “I was super excited because I really liked his book,” she said. However, her enthusiasm faded over time. “But every time he talks, and every time I see an interview from him, I just get disgusted and disappointed.”
Mark, a 24-year-old Californian who voted for President Joe Biden in the last election, voiced concern about Trump’s associations, particularly after far-right activist Laura Loomer was seen aboard Trump’s private plane. “What scares me is the people he’s surrounded himself with,” said Mark. “It just seems like he’s a vessel for other people who are way more competent and have way more plans to do stuff that I personally don’t agree with.”
The group had mixed feelings about Harris. While some described her as “phony,” they were taken aback by how she seemed to outshine Trump during the debate. George, a 21-year-old student from Georgia, said, “He looked pretty weak next to Harris, who is someone who has historically not been able to perform well in debates.” George criticized Trump for appearing unable to control his emotions, calling it a sign of weakness.
Pierce, 26, who didn’t vote in the last election, agreed with George, saying, “I feel like Trump looked weak. I’ve never seen him look like that before.” When asked to describe both Trump and Harris in a single word, the group struggled to summarize their thoughts. Harris was labeled “confident,” “phony and terrifying,” and “vibes candidate,” while Trump was described with harsher terms such as “unstable,” “spiraling,” and “unviable.”
If the election were held that day, five of the 14 voters said they would support Trump, four would back Harris, while three remained undecided, and two would write in a different candidate. “I just don’t want to feel personally responsible for whatever happens,” said Ben, 20, an undecided voter from Michigan. “I don’t believe my one vote will make a difference, even in a swing state.”