Lifelong Republican Voter, 77, Reveals Trump Regret and Says She May Vote Democrat

A 77-year-old lifelong Republican voter, identified as Melanie, said she may vote Democrat in November after becoming disillusioned with US President Donald Trump and the Republican Party. Speaking on SiriusXM's The Megyn Kelly Wrap-Up Show on 25 September 2026, she said she had 'never voted for a Democrat' in her life.

Melanie's comments offer a personal account of political frustration ahead of the 3 November midterm elections. They do not establish that other lifelong Republicans have reached the same conclusion.

Why Melanie Says She Lost Faith in Trump

During the programme, Melanie told host Emily Jashinsky that her support for Trump began to change at the start of his second term. She identified Pamela Bondi's appointment as attorney general as the moment her view shifted.

'I've always been very conservative,' Melanie said. 'I've never voted for a Democrat in my life, followed Trump, was with Trump up until he appointed Pam Bondi as attorney general.'

'And I knew right then, oh no, oh no,' she added.

Melanie said things had gone 'way downhill' after the appointment. Her remarks did not identify one policy as the sole reason for her change of view. Instead, she described wider frustration with Trump, the Republican Party and the country's political direction.

Trump removed Bondi from the attorney general post on 2 April 2026 amid mounting criticism and frustration over her performance, including her handling of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Earlier in her tenure, Bondi said an Epstein 'client list' was on her desk and indicated that Epstein-related material could be released. In July 2025, however, the Justice Department and FBI said their review had found no incriminating 'client list.' The White House later said Bondi had been referring to the broader investigative files.

Melanie identified Bondi's appointment as the point when her support for Trump began to change. Her comments were later reported and shared by Media Matters for America, which published audio from the programme.

'We're just, as a country, we're just screwed because it doesn't matter who you vote for,' Melanie said. 'It does not matter.'

She said she was considering either not voting or crossing party lines. 'I'm so pissed at the Republicans that I just might go and vote straight-ticket Democrat just because,' she said. 'Why should I be loyal to them?'

Jashinsky responded that she believed 'there are so many people like you out there'. That comment was the host's assessment, not polling evidence. Melanie spoke only for herself, and her remarks cannot be treated as a measure of Republican voters generally.

Trump's Support Among Republicans Has Declined

The conversation comes as recent polling shows lower approval of Trump among Republican respondents and growing concern about the cost of living.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted from 17 to 20 September found that 73 per cent of Republicans approved of Trump's overall performance. That was down from 82 per cent in the previous Reuters/Ipsos survey.

Trump's overall approval rating stood at 32 per cent, which Reuters described as the lowest of his political career.

The poll found that 17 per cent of respondents approved of Trump's handling of the cost of living. Among Republicans, 51 per cent disapproved of his handling of the issue, while 44 per cent approved.

Ipsos separately reported that Republican approval of Trump's handling of the economy had fallen from 80 per cent in January to 56 per cent in its latest survey. Approval of his handling of the cost of living fell from 70 per cent to 44 per cent.

Trump's policy on Iran has also featured in recent polling. A survey conducted on 16 and 17 September found that 26 per cent of voters approved of his handling of the conflict, down from 33 per cent one month after the war began. Among Republicans, approval fell from 73 per cent in March to 60 per cent.

Those figures do not establish that Republicans are preparing to vote as Melanie intends. They do, however, show declining approval of Trump among Republican respondents on several issues.

Economic concerns feature prominently in recent polling. Reuters reported that the cost of living was the leading issue cited by voters as influencing their decisions. In a poll conducted on 16 and 17 September, registered voters preferred a Democratic congressional candidate over a Republican candidate by 49 per cent to 41 per cent.

For Melanie, the issue is not simply one poll or one policy. 'Yeah, I'm mad at Republicans,' she said. 'We're just screwed. We're just screwed no matter what.'

Whether she ultimately votes Democrat or does not vote remains unconfirmed. Her comments show one Republican voter reconsidering a political loyalty she once described as lifelong.