President Donald Trump’s rally in South Carolina Wednesday revealed mixed feelings among his supporters as frustrations over the economy, immigration and the war with Iran collide with the stakes of November’s midterm elections.

While some rallygoers urged fellow Republicans to look past their frustrations and turn out in November, one Clemson University student who once proudly wore a Trump hat said he was considering voting Democratic.

«I was a big Trump supporter,» Grant Frady explained. «But, recently, I didn’t support him for the 2024 election. I feel like there’s too many special interests involved. I feel like what he said to the public was that he was anti-war. He was wanting to boost the economy. He said that he was just going to put America first, and I just feel like we haven’t.»

Trump traveled to South Carolina to rally support for Republican Sen. Darline Graham, who faces an unexpectedly competitive challenge from Democrat Annie Andrews in a state that has long favored Republicans.

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«And he also, he said he was going to deport all the illegal immigrants. We haven’t seen enough to really say that. I feel like he’s just overstating. I feel he’s causing too many problems for what he’s really benefiting. We haven’t gotten that many illegal immigrants out, and look how much problems we have with ICE.»

The economic concerns come as Americans continue to grapple with the cost of living, while the conflict with Iran has added pressure to energy markets and heightened uncertainty about the economy. 

A recent survey found that six in 10 voters say the cost of living is their top economic concern, followed by government spending (15%), jobs and income inequality (7% each), tariffs (6%) and taxes (5%).

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Frady wasn’t the only Clemson student who arrived at the rally with mixed feelings about the president’s record.

James, another Clemson student, said he had supported Trump in the past but was frustrated with aspects of the administration’s foreign and immigration policies.

«I’ve supported him [Trump] in the past, but some things have went off the edge,» James stated. «I definitely think foreign policy should be enforced a little better than we’ve just been letting it go. And, also, I feel like he hasn’t been doing enough for illegal immigrants getting in this country. So, that’s also a standpoint I like.

«I think you should be more aggressive than not joining in with these [foreign] countries,» he continued. «‘Cause I don’t think that’s America first, and it’s causing us to have a lot of debt.»

Frady said doubts about Graham’s conservative credentials have prompted him to consider voting for Andrews, a Democratic pediatrician, while other rallygoers argued that frustrations with Trump’s record were not enough to justify sitting out November’s election.

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«You may not be thrilled with Trump, but you’ll get the alternative,» Mike Korb of Greenville told Digital, warning that Democrats would also reverse the administration’s immigration-enforcement policies if they regained power.

Korb argued that Trump’s rally could help energize Republican voters, though he expressed doubts about the GOP’s prospects of retaining the House.

Summer Frost of Aiken argued that Americans should be willing to endure higher energy prices tied to the conflict with Iran, describing the economic burden as «short-term pain for long term gain.»

She wasn’t alone in viewing Iran as a long-term threat to America that had to finally be dealt with.

Scott Hines, a military veteran from Greenwood, recalled serving during the 1983 Marine barracks bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, an attack that shaped his views on confronting Iran.

«I was in the military when they bombed the Marine barracks. And we should have already hit Iran,» Hines told Digital.

Hines and wife Margaret live not far from the Georgia line, where student Laken Riley was murdered by an illegal immigrant while jogging in February 2024.

«Nobody wanted a young girl … who couldn’t jog on her own college campus to end up like that. I mean, that’s for any college campus, just not for someplace close to home,» Margaret said about the tragedy, which occurred in nearby Athens, Georgia.

The president’s rally also faced repeated disruptions from protesters, several of whom were escorted from the venue.

During one disturbance, an attendee reportedly punched a protester, drawing praise from Trump, who compared the person who threw the blow to former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield.

The local sheriff’s office said Thursday that an assault report had been filed after the altercation. A deputy observed minor bruising on the person who reported being assaulted, according to the report. The case remained under investigation, with no suspect publicly identified.

The disruptions underscored the tensions surrounding Trump’s visit just 13 days before the midterm elections, when Republicans will be looking to mobilize voters in a state where a Senate seat once considered safely Republican has become more competitive.

For Republican voters interviewed at the rally, the question was whether frustrations over Trump’s record would ultimately change their votes or whether the prospect of Democratic victories would be enough to keep them behind the GOP.

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El abogado Erick Castillo presentó un amparo contra el presidente Bernardo Arévalo por los asesinatos de Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa y Gustavo Adolfo Aguilar Gamarro en el Campo Marte, con el objetivo de que se determinen responsabilidades por la seguridad ciudadana.

La acción fue planteada cinco días después del ataque armado, del que aún no se conocen detalles sobre su ejecución ni avances de la investigación.

El recurso también apunta contra el ministro de Gobernación y solicita que el mandatario adopte medidas que, según Castillo, permitan combatir al crimen organizado.

Además, pide la destitución del ministro de la Defensa por su presunta responsabilidad en una intervención militar que, afirmó, derivó en la muerte de ocho ciudadanos zacapanecos.

Castillo sostuvo que la falta de una política estatal para prevenir delitos expone a la población al riesgo de no regresar a sus hogares tras salir a trabajar, estudiar o realizar otras actividades. “Sus errores le están costando vidas a todos los guatemaltecos”, afirmó al presentar la acción.

El reclamo por la seguridad ciudadana y los ocho asesinatos en Zacapa

La demanda plantea que Arévalo incumplió la obligación constitucional de garantizar la seguridad de la población. El abogado citó el artículo 183, literal B, de la Constitución guatemalteca como fundamento para exigir que el Presidente adopte decisiones en materia de seguridad.

La presentación vincula el pedido de remoción del titular de Defensa con un operativo militar en Zacapa, donde murieron ocho ciudadanos. Castillo afirmó que el ministro de la Defensa reconoció la participación militar y cuestionó que, hasta el momento de la presentación, no hubiera funcionarios responsabilizados por esas muertes.

El letrado también responsabilizó al ministro de Gobernación por una supuesta omisión preventiva en ese caso y por no haber activado de forma eficaz a la Policía Nacional Civil para detener a los autores del doble homicidio en la capital.

Según su planteo, las actuaciones policiales posteriores incluyeron detenciones ilegales.

“Acá día a día los guatemaltecos salen a sus labores y no se sabe si van a regresar a sus hogares”, dijo Castillo. El abogado señaló que la inseguridad afecta a trabajadores, emprendedores, docentes, niños y familias que requieren condiciones para trasladarse, estudiar y producir.

El ataque contra Solórzano Foppa y Aguilar Gamarro ocurrió en el Campo Marte, en Ciudad de Guatemala. Castillo sostuvo que el crimen sucedió en una zona donde deberían existir mayores garantías de seguridad, aunque extendió su reclamo a todo el territorio nacional.

La Corte de Constitucionalidad y el pedido de destituciones

La acción fue presentada ante la Corte de Constitucionalidad, a la que Castillo pidió que ordene al Ejecutivo implementar una política eficaz de seguridad ciudadana. El abogado solicitó que el tribunal requiera al Presidente designar funcionarios que, a su criterio, sean capaces y estén comprometidos con la protección de la vida y la integridad de los guatemaltecos.

El recurso quedó bajo la ponencia de la magistrada titular Dina Josefina Ochoa. Castillo expresó su expectativa de que el pleno de magistrados dé trámite inmediato al expediente conforme a la ley de amparo.

El abogado invocó el artículo 269 de la Constitución, que establece las atribuciones de la Corte de Constitucionalidad para defender el orden constitucional. Afirmó que el tribunal debe proteger derechos como la vida, la integridad personal y la seguridad ciudadana frente a lo que describió como una falta de respuesta estatal.

“Lo único que nos queda como guatemaltecos es acudir a la Corte de Constitucionalidad”, expresó. También consideró que el país atraviesa una situación de debilitamiento institucional, aunque sostuvo que la población no debe dejar de confiar en los organismos encargados de proteger sus derechos fundamentales.

Castillo afirmó que la falta de seguridad puede afectar las próximas elecciones generales, al impedir que los ciudadanos participen con tranquilidad. El planteo pide que las autoridades garanticen protección para quienes concurran a votar y para las familias que deban movilizarse durante el proceso electoral.

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Maine voters are in a negative mood this election season. Only 12% say their family is better off financially compared to two years ago, and more than 6 in 10 disapprove of President Donald Trump’s job performance, including 2 in 10 Republicans.

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A survey of Maine likely voters finds that mood weighs on Republican Sen. Susan Collins, as 53% are concerned she votes with Trump too much. By contrast, 46% are concerned Democratic challenger Troy Jackson is too liberal.

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Despite those views, the horse race shows the candidates tied, with Jackson and Collins at 49% apiece. All survey interviews were completed after the candidates’ Oct. 15 debate.

Collins, who first won her seat about three decades ago, is seeking a sixth term. She’s the only GOP senator running for re-election this year from a state Trump lost in 2024 (by 7 points). In 2020, Collins won by nearly 9 points.

Democrats view Maine as a must-win seat in their effort to take control of the Senate. When voters are asked about control of the U.S. Senate, 53% prefer a Democratic-led Senate vs. 45% who want the Republicans to remain in charge. While almost all Jackson supporters want Democratic control (96%), Collins supporters are more divided: 89% want a GOP-led chamber, but 9% prefer Democratic leadership.

Collins will need to overcome the energy on the left, as far more Democrats (79%) than Republicans (61%) say they are extremely interested in the election, which explains why Jackson is ahead by 16 points among that group. He’s up by 4 points among those who say they are «certain» to vote, and also carries the one in five Mainers who have already cast a ballot by a decisive 40 points. On the other hand, a slim majority plans to vote on Election Day, and they favor Collins by 12 points.

«Collins is no stranger to outrunning her party, but Democrats hold an 18-point enthusiasm advantage,» says Mikaela Linder of Beacon Research, a Democratic polling firm that conducts the Poll with Republican Daron Shaw. «Trump’s job rating is 25 points underwater, and a majority strongly disapproves of him. Jackson has an opening if he can carry that momentum beyond his base and across the finish line.»

Views of the president’s performance are a problem for GOP candidates in Maine. Currently, 37% of voters approve of the job Trump is doing as president, while 62% disapprove, including 54% who strongly disapprove.

The candidates’ personal favorability ratings are both underwater. Views of Jackson are negative by 2 points (47% favorable, 49% unfavorable), and by 4 points for Collins (47%-51%).

Partisan vote choice varies distinctly across key groups. Voters under 45 favor Collins by 6 points, while those ages 45 and older prefer Jackson by 3. Women support Jackson by 5 points, while men back Collins by 4.

The sharpest divide is education: Mainers with a college degree pick Jackson by 23 points, while Collins leads among those without a degree by 16.

Collins is ahead among those living in rural areas by 7 points, while Jackson is the pick of the smaller number of suburban voters by 18 points.

For comparison, in 2020, Collins won both the voters living in rural areas and those without a college degree by 18 points each.

«Republicans appear to be struggling with White rural voters this cycle, and Maine is no exception,» Shaw said. «GOP candidates desperately need these voters to show up, and need something like a 65-35 vote to overcome Democratic strength in urban areas.»

Party loyalty is roughly even as 9 in 10 of each candidate’s party faithful back them, and the small subgroup of independents favors Collins by 13 points. Both Jackson (92%) and Collins (90%) supporters have a high degree of vote certainty. 

In Maine’s gubernatorial race, Democrat Hannah Pingree leads Republican Bobby Charles by 10 points, 49% to 39%, while independent candidate Rick Bennett takes 9%.

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Unlike Jackson, whose coalition backs Pingree almost unanimously (only 8% defect), nearly one in five Collins supporters (19%) peel off to either Bennett (11%) or Pingree (8%).

Conducted October 16-20, 2026, under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Poll includes interviews with a sample of 1,689 Maine registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (226) and cellphones (1,035) or completed the survey online after receiving a text message (428). Results based on the registered voter sample have a margin of sampling error of ±2 percentage points and for the subsample of 1,514 likely voters it is ±2.5 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling error, question wording and order can influence results. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Voter Analysis, and voter file data. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics of respondents are representative of the registered voter population. Likely voters are based on a probabilistic statistical model that relies on past vote history, interest in the current election, intention to vote, age, education, race, ethnicity, and marital status. Results among subgroups are only shown when the sample size is at least N=100. 

Fox News’ Victoria Balara contributed to this report.

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