Fox News host Jesse Watters expressed surprise that the Republican Party lost white voters in the recent midterm elections, reflecting on the GOP's performance during a panel discussion on "The Five."
"But the coalition’s totally collapsed," Watters stated. "I mean, we lost whites?! Whites! You can’t do that! If you’re a Republican. Men! Hispanics, big time! And so, it’s going to take a while to put the coalition back together, because it was in the heartland."
Watters also commented on the election results as a "spanking" and a "severe spanking," suggesting that Republicans need to better articulate their economic policies to voters.
"Maybe the Republicans learned their lesson that if you’re going to make life more expensive for people, you have to be able to sell it," he said. "And if you can’t sell it, you’re going to pay for it."
Watters recalled that Donald Trump had claimed life for Americans had become less expensive during his second term, despite tariffs and other economic policies that may have contributed to rising costs. He added that "the trade war and the Iran war are noble goals, but it’s a five-year deal," and that making things more expensive for struggling individuals would not end well.
Preliminary data from Tufts University indicates that 61% of white voters aged 18 to 29 supported Democratic candidates in House races, an increase from previous elections, and 71% of young Hispanic voters backed Democrats. Watters speculated that the election results could create an opening for a "strong, untainted ‘America First’ patriot" in future elections. However, figures like Elon Musk have warned that the current political trajectory could lead to Democrats electing a president in 2028.