In the wake of Trumps surprise win, some journalists, scholars, and political strategists argued that economic anxiety drove these Americans to Trump. But new analysis of post-election survey data conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute and The Atlantic found something different: Evidence suggests financially troubled voters in the white working class were more likely to prefer Clinton over Trump. Besides partisan affiliation, it was cultural anxietyfeeling like a stranger in America, supporting the deportation of immigrants, and hesitating about educational investmentthat best predicted support for Trump.
This data adds to the publics mosaic-like understanding of the 2016 election. It suggests Trumps most powerful message, at least among some Americans, was about defending the countrys putative culture. Because this message seems to have resonated so deeply with voters, Trumps policies, speeches, and eventual reelection may depend on their perception of how well he fulfills it.