SNL Mom Confession: Are Trump Voters Experiencing Regret?

SNL’s Viral Sketch: A Mirror to Shifting Trump Voter Sentiment?

“Saturday Night Live” (SNL) recently delivered a political sketch that resonated deeply with audiences. The scene, featuring a mother’s dramatic confession of growing reservations about former President Donald Trump, sparked a national conversation. But how much of this comedic portrayal reflects a real shift in voter sentiment?

The sketch’s brilliance lies in its bipartisan appeal. Conservatives can find humor in the reactions of the ‘insufferable’ liberal children, while liberals can enjoy the depiction of the ‘regretful Trump voter’ finally acknowledging their misgivings. But beyond the laughs, a crucial question emerges: is this scenario becoming a reality for a growing number of Americans?

Growing Skepticism Among Trump’s Base

Recent polling data suggests that more and more Trump voters are beginning to express skepticism. However, the expression of these feelings is often more nuanced than the outright regret depicted in the SNL sketch.

Polls Reveal Eroding Support

A Pew Research Center poll revealed that 20% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents believe the Trump administration has been “worse than expected.” Furthermore, the percentage of these voters fully supporting Trump’s policies has dropped from 67% in February 2025 to 56% in late January.

Fox News and New York Times-Siena College polls further corroborate this trend. Data from these polls, specifically focusing on 2024 Trump voters, showed significant levels of dissatisfaction.

Fox News Poll: 16% of Trump voters disapproved of his job performance. On 10 out of 12 specific issues, over 20% expressed disapproval, with at least 25% on half of those issues.
New York Times-Siena Poll: 12% of 2024 Trump voters disapproved of his overall job performance.

These numbers suggest that while voters may be hesitant to express outright disapproval, their concerns become apparent when examining specific policy areas. You can find more information on polling trends at Pew Research Center.

The Nuances of ‘Regret’

Directly measuring ‘regret’ is challenging. A Washington Post-Ipsos survey in October found that only 7% of Trump voters expressed regret over their support, compared to 3% of Kamala Harris supporters. However, this figure doesn’t tell the whole story.

Among non-White Trump voters, regret was significantly higher at 19%. Furthermore, previous data indicates that feelings of reservation have been building over time. A University of Massachusetts Amherst poll showed a decline in ‘very confident’ voters, from 74% in April to 69% in August. While only 1% regretted their vote, approximately 30% had some level of reservation – ranging from ‘some regrets’ to ‘mixed feelings’ or ‘some concerns’.

This data suggests that Trump voters may be underselling their overall disenchantment. They may not be fully regretful, but they are increasingly recognizing discrepancies between expectations and reality, mirroring the mother’s realization in the SNL sketch.

The Reluctance to Admit Being Wrong

Just like the character in the SNL sketch, many voters may be hesitant to openly admit their changing views, particularly in the face of strong opposition. Admitting a mistake is never easy, especially when the other side is eager to point it out.

The SNL sketch, while comedic, tapped into a growing undercurrent of doubt and disillusionment among some Trump voters. Whether this translates into a significant shift in political allegiance remains to be seen, but the data suggests that the conversation is beginning to change.