Dear Editor,
One year after his inauguration on January 20, 2025, Guyanese Americans who voted for Trump are still supporting him despite declining approval numbers and a crack down on immigrants like Guyanese.
Despite several legal cases against him and his controversial remarks against minorities, Trump won large percentages of immigrant American and minority voters in November 2024 for a second term, an accomplishment thought unimaginable. His victory was bolstered by increased support from all ethnic groups in traditionally strong Democratic neighbourhoods. Minorities, including Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Guyanese, traditional Democrats, almost doubled their support for Trump. He also expanded his support among Guyanese, West Indian, and Indo-Caribbean people in the 2024 election. There was a significant shift in support in Guyanese neighbourhoods like Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, Rockaway, Woodhaven, Jamaica, Queens Village, Hollis, Briarwood, etc. in Queens, Parkchester, Westchester, Fordham, Grand Concourse sections of Bronx, and in Brooklyn especially on the border to Queens like in Cypress Hills.
There was also a significant increase in Muslim support for Trump. His numbers went up among every ethnic group since first elected in 2016 and lost in 2020, including among Indo and Afro Guyanese Americans. Interactions found some Indo-Guyanese voted for Trump and some 15% Afro Guyanese. They said Biden Administration mishandled the economy, public safety, and immigration and raised their taxes. They flipped to Trump.
The last year saw monumental changes in US domestic and international policy. America First defined Trump’s foreign policy and immigration raids against illegals dominated news in his domestic policy. His approval rating has fallen. Yet, Trump remains popular in his base including among Guyanese who voted for him in 2024. Political observers have struggled to understand why Guyanese (and other minorities) voted for Donald Trump in 2024 and largely remain fiercely loyal supporters despite declining popularity. There is something about Trump that draws people; he is charismatic, feared and respected even by those who criticize him. Those Guyanese who voted Trump saw him as heroic and admirable. He has no permanent friends, only permanent interests for USA. This explains Guyanese Americans courted him in the interests of Guyana and the diaspora in USA and even proposed the idea of Guyana being an adjunct of USA for protection from Venezuela, a smart geostrategic move to protect their homeland from Maduro.
Trump has been the most powerful leader globally since January 2025, giving leadership the likes of which America never experienced. It’s been unabashedly “America First”. No ruler or country can challenge or defy Trump without consequences except perhaps China and Russia, both of which have very powerful militaries although the latter’s economy is in shambles. China’s economy remains very strong. Trump has brought countries to their knees as we have seen over the last year, using tariffs to get his way for what is best for USA. He could get away with his policy because USA is the world’s largest economy and militarily most powerful country. Every country depends on USA for trade. Trump did whatever to advance American interests.
Because of the respect Trump commanded and America First policy, and his anti-immigrant stance, several Guyanese Americans courted Trump, strategically promoting a policy of close ties (adjunct) between Guyana and USA. It was thought such a move would protect Guyana and Guyanese (legal and undocumented) immigrants (diaspora) in USA.
Critics, naysayers and other left-wing detractors assailed the strategy of courting Trump and proposing Guyana’s closeness with USA, mocking it. The Guyana government knows he only attacks and destroys, and as such they ignored him and other critics. The government, under Jagdeo’s enlightened thinking, has courted Trump, hiring a lobbying firm with former closely tied Trump’s staff. Guyanese in USA, including this writer, have also been lobbying the President and his administration as well as members of the Republican Congress directly for policies beneficial to Guyana. The strategy of linking Guyana with USA seemed to have been working. Trump has temporarily removed the Maduro threat that has been claimed two-thirds of Guyana’s territory. So far, the number of Guyanese deported has been minimal, and they were largely those involved in crimes as opposed to just being illegal in USA.
Half of the Guyanese diaspora in USA have praised Trump for his pro-business platform and tough-on-crime approach and against illegal criminal immigrants. But they don’t support his crackdown on all illegal immigrants, pointing out that most are hard-working and honest and contribute significantly to the economy. Guyanese contribute enormously to the US economy in all fields of Endeavor. And they feel bad that some good undocumented people were deported; they hope others will be left alone and become regularized.
Guyanese Americans who voted Trump are confident things will improve in USA. But will they vote Republican next time with Trump not on the ballot. Guyana should not get on the wrong side of Trump by allying with American competitors who challenge the “Dunroe” Doctrine.