A recent survey by the 2040 Strategy Group revealed that a substantial majority (67%) of Black respondents believe Democratic Party leaders should actively defend diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as part of their broader resistance to Trump’s anti-DEI stance. Just 18% of Black respondents supported the current strategy for opposing Trump’s policy agenda. The poll also showed that 1 in 4 Black voters are skeptical that Democrats will effectively connect with the Black community in the future.1
This skepticism is rooted in real policy concerns. As Alvin Tillery, Northwestern University professor and founder of the 2040 Strategy Group, explains, “Trump’s executive order on DEI is not merely symbolic. It has direct consequences for Black workers and students.” He noted, “Trump’s executive order ending “wasteful” DEI programs in the federal government puts a target on the backs of Black employees–who make up 18% of the federal workforce. Many Black Americans who once found access to the middle class through federal employment or even college now find that the door has been shut.”
Regarding Trump’s overall support, the survey found that only 25% of Black voters approved of him. This is in comparison to 47% of the electorate at large. Additionally, 64% of surveyed Black Americans believed that Trump’s political agenda is hostile to people of color. Even self-identified Trump supporters were evenly split (41% agree v. 41% disagree) on this question.
Despite their disapproval of Trump, many Black Americans remain unconvinced that Democrats can effectively counter his policies. Tillery points out, “Overall, Black Americans agree (74%-10% margin) that DEI programs are important to achieve full equality in the United States. 71% agree (vs 11% disagree) that Trump’s attacks on DEI make race relations worse. Majorities also agree that Trump’s attacks on DEI are a threat to their well-being (63% agree v 18% disagree).”
To bridge this gap, Tillery emphasizes that Democrats must engage “credible messengers” who can articulate the specific harms of the Trump-Republican agenda, particularly its attacks on DEI. He believes centralizing these issues to their messaging would allow Democrats to reconnect with their base and clearly define the contrast between the two parties.
In a conversation with Tillery about the survey, I asked him what specific steps Black voters want the Democratic Party to take in defending DEI. He responded, “Black voters are demanding more than rhetorical support for DEI—they want tangible action in two key areas:
Corporate Accountability: Many Black voters believe corporations are too quick to abandon DEI efforts under political pressure. They want the Democrats to use their national platform to advocate for businesses maintaining DEI commitments and explore legislative incentives for inclusive hiring practices.
Civil Rights Enforcement: Black voters see DEI as part of the broader civil rights struggle, and they want more vigorous rhetoric from the Democrats about the need for federal enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in workplaces, schools, and government contracts.
Beyond DEI, I also asked Tillery what drives Black voters’ skepticism about the Democratic Party’s ability to connect with their community. He identified several factors, including a lack of policy follow-through, weak opposition to Trump’s policies, and youth disengagement. “Many Black voters feel that Democrats campaign on racial justice but fail to deliver concrete policy wins—particularly in economic opportunity, police reform, and voting rights,” he explained. Tillery added, “Black voters overwhelmingly oppose Trump’s attacks on DEI (71% believe they worsen race relations), but many believe Democrats have not been aggressive enough in countering these moves.” Furthermore, he noted, “Young Black voters are significantly less likely than older generations to believe the Democratic Party cares about their concerns.”
Given how voting changed among young people in the 2024 election, I asked Tillery about the role of young Black voters in shaping the future of DEI advocacy within the Democratic Party and how their views differ from older generations. He explained, “Young Black voters are central to the future of DEI advocacy but are less convinced that the Democratic Party is the vehicle for change.” He noted that young Black voters want to see broader civil rights framing, have lower trust in the Democratic Party, and are disenchanted with politics. More specifically, he shared, “Young Black voters see DEI as part of a larger fight for racial justice, environmental justice, and wealth equity. They tend to connect it with movements like police reform, reparations, and housing justice rather than just workplace policies.” He added, “Older Black voters (50+) view the Democratic Party as a flawed but necessary institution, while younger Black voters are more inclined to seek change through grassroots movements and economic activism. This is why enthusiasm for the Democratic Party drops 30% among younger and less engaged voters.” Of concern to Tillery is that “the enthusiasm gap among younger Black voters could be politically fatal for Democrats in 2026 and 2028 if they fail to demonstrate real investment in DEI and economic justice.”
Finally, I asked Tillery how Democrats could counter Trump’s Executive Order on DEI in a way that resonates with Black voters and motivates turnout in 2026 and 2028. He outlined a multi-layered strategy:
Legal Resistance & State-Level Action: Black voters want aggressive legal challenges to Trump’s executive order on DEI and state-level protections for corporate and university DEI initiatives.
Tie DEI to Economic Mobility: Many Black voters see DEI as economic justice. Democrats must frame DEI as a tool for upward mobility, job access, and Black entrepreneurship rather than just a corporate HR [human resources] initiative.
Grassroots & Community-Based Mobilization: Skeptical Black voters need trusted messengers—faith leaders, activists, and business owners—to communicate the personal stakes of Trump’s policies. The party cannot rely on D.C.-centric messaging alone.
Consistent, Not Seasonal, Engagement: Democrats must maintain engagement beyond election cycles. Black voters want continued investment in Black communities, not just outreach in the final months before an election.
The stakes are high, and the road ahead for Democrats is not without obstacles. So what can they do to regain trust and mobilize Black voters in 2026 and beyond? Democrats are starting to mount small fights, but, according to Tillery, “the party will need to hit DEI messages even harder to keep Black voters on their side.”
1 This analysis is based on a poll of 979 Black respondents and was collected between February 5 and 7, 2025. All estimates are weighted on age, sex, income, education, and partisanship to estimate a nationally representative sample of Black adult residents. The margin of error for whole-sample point estimates is approximately +/- 3 percent, larger for subsets. More detailed cross-tabulations of select segments or other outcome questions are available upon request.