Several prominent Greek-Americans have expressed their support for Donald Trump in the race for the White House against Kamala Harris.
Greek-Americans have a history of strong political engagement and high voter turnout compared to other ethnic groups. Active participation makes their votes more impactful, especially in close elections such as the November Presidential election.
They are heavily concentrated in key states, particularly those with significant electoral votes, such as New York, Illinois (especially Chicago), Florida, Ohio, and California. Florida and Ohio are swing states, meaning Greek American votes can potentially influence the outcome, especially in tight races.
The Greek community historically leaned towards conservativism, influenced by religious values, immigrant experiences, and anti-communism. Over time, younger generations and those in urban areas have become more liberal, making the community politically diverse today.
However, much of the Greek diaspora in the US—probably the majority, though there is no hard data to back this—supports Trump.
A poll by Signet Research on behalf of Greek Reporter in 2020 showed that 48 percent said they would vote for Trump in the election even though most respondents opined that he has not been good for Greece.
According to the survey results, 22 percent intended that they would vote for a Democratic nominee. In contrast, seventeen percent said they would vote for “anyone but Trump,” and 11 percent replied they would probably vote for a Democratic candidate.
With Joe Biden out of the race, it is too early to assess the impact that Kamala Harris has had on Greek-Americans thus far.
Influential Greek-Americans for Trump
Several influential Greek-Americans have already come out in support of the former President. For example, billionaire John Catsimatidis, CEO of Red Apple Group, has not kept his voting intention under wraps. He fully supports the reelection of Trump.
He explained why in a recent interview with NPR. “President Biden has promised people—he promised the poor he’s going to take care of them. He made the poor people in America poorer, and he made the middle class poorer,” he said.
“You have to look at the difference between the Trump era and the Joe Biden era. When President Biden came in, he doubled the price of gasoline to the consumer, and he increased the price of food 30-40 percent—because of the doubling of the price of gasoline—and that’s what caused the inflation, so as inflation went up, the Fed had no choice but [to] raise the interest rates, which put the real estate market in a turmoil and then put the banks in a turmoil,” Catsimatidis declared in an interview with Fox News.
“President Trump—I have known him for a long timehe— gets rattled up. But at the end of the day, he has more common sense than many,” he added.
Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony for Trump
Greek Reporter spoke to Nevada Lieutenant Governor Stavros Anthony, a distinguished Greek-American and a supporter of Trump.
“The reason why I’m supporting Donald Trump for president is because we need to get our economy back on track,” he said. “When he was the president for four years, we had low inflation. We had low interest rates. Our gas prices were very low. It was easier for families to take care of their families. It was easier for small businesses to open and grow and prosper. And today it’s the opposite. Inflation is through the roof.”
“I believe Donald Trump can bring our economy back to where it was four years ago. And I think that’s great for all of us, including Greek-Americans,” he added.
Anthony’s responsibilities in Nevada, where he was elected as Lieutenant Governor in 2022, include promoting tourism and outdoor recreation, supporting a strong transportation system and small businesses, and diversifying the economy.
In replying to a question about the US and the rest of the world under Trump, Anthony stressed the point that during Trump’s Presidency, the US was not involved in wars.
“When Trump was President four years ago, there weren’t any wars…Russia did not invade Ukraine. Hamas did not invade Israel. There were fewer conflicts around,” said Anthony.
“I believe he wants to get back to a period of peace through strength, where countries knew that if they started wars, we would respond,” he maintained. “I believe that we’ll go back to where we were four years ago, when we had a strong defense, a strong military, strong coalitions throughout the world and people respected and feared the United States.”
Speaking about the NATO allies, he said that the Alliance was “doing fine” during Trump’s Presidency.
“NATO was doing just fine,” he continued. “Trump demanded that NATO pay its fair share in defense costs. And I agree with him on that. The NATO countries need to pay their fair share in order to keep this coalition intact. America cannot be the one that subsidizes everything in NATO.”
Kathy Tavoularis, City Council member of the city of Orange, CA
Kathy Tavoularis is a Republican delegate and a life-long supporter of the Republican Party. A 41-year resident of Orange, Councilwoman Tavoularis earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the California State University at Long Beach, and she is the first Greek-American to sit on the Orange City Council.
The Councilor ended up on the Trump campaign in 2016 and has been with him ever since.
In an interview with Greek Reporter, she recalls that in 2016, she only liked two of the Republican candidates: Marco Rubio and Donald Trump. She clearly remembers the first debate of the Republican candidates in Cleveland.
“I noticed the audience’s reactions to him [Trump], because he just said what was on his mind, which was very unlike any kind of Republican who always sort of did the politically correct thing,” she recalled. “And I knew in that instant that he was going to be the nominee. And so I quickly decided to support him…I liked him because of his forthrightness and his toughness. I’m glad I did.”
Tavoularis says that Trump is a fighter and an embodiment of the American dream.
“Here’s a man who has everything in the world, and everything was thrown at him. They’ve tried to bankrupt him. They’ve tried to put him in jail. They’ve sued him. They’ve tried to destroy his companies. They’ve tried to turn his family against him,” she said.
“If he wins, it would be incredible,” she added. “Forget about the Nixon comeback story. No one will have ever seen anything like the likes of Donald Trump ever again in this country. He is an American story.”
Many Greek-Americans “support Trump”
“I know many, many Greeks who are supportive of Trump. I don’t think they’re doing anything officially other than supporting him, voting for him, maybe sending him some money,” Tavoularis said.
“I work with them to make sure that the Greeks are represented,” she added. “And my goal is to always make sure that the Greeks aren’t left behind, meaning the Latinos are so good and the black Americans are so good at voicing their opinions with campaigns. And the Greeks are just not very good at it.”
She says that she always tries to influence running for federal office about what’s going on in Cyprus and the role of the Greek Orthodox Church, in particular regarding the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople.
Tavoularis believes that Greek fears of a Trump presidency are misplaced. Greek media have been highlighting the close relationship between the former President and his Turkish counterpart Tayyip Erdogan.
“I don’t believe he is any closer to Erdogan than he is to anybody else,” she maintained. “Now, I think this is an opportunity for Mitotakis and the Greek government.”
“It is not a difficult thing to be close with Trump. I think the Saudi Arabians did a fantastic job in 2016 for being noticed,” she disclosed. “That was his first international trip. And it brilliantly cemented a relationship.”
“The Greeks need to learn from this and understand the way to Trump is to create a relationship with him of trust and realizing and understanding what Greece has done for NATO, always paying their dues, always fighting with the United States. This is not a hard thing to do,” Tavoularis notes.
Christos Marafatsos: 75 percent of Greek Americans back Trump
Christos Marafatsos is a first-generation Greek-American entrepreneur based in the Washington, D.C. area who has been a Trump supporter since Day 1.
“Trump resonates with millions of Americans because he exemplifies strong leadership and puts American interests first through his common-sense “America First” policy,” he tells Greek Reporter.
During the Trump Administration’s time in office as the 45th President he Marafatsos championed the positions presented by Trump. His commitment to the Administration became direct when he launched Greek Voices for Trump. The accomplishments of Marafatsos’ initiative led to an official invitation to join the National Diversity Coalition for Trump, which placed the Greek-American entrepreneur in the role of Vice Chairman and Adviser to the President.
Marafatsos says that during his presidency the US experienced record economic growth, with over 6.7 million jobs created and unemployment hitting a 50-year low. By cutting over 8 regulations for every new one, Trump eliminated bureaucratic red tape, unleashing business potential across the country.
“What makes Trump stand out is his willingness to challenge the status quo—whether that means reshaping foreign policy, cutting unnecessary regulations, or securing our borders. Many Americans feel betrayed by the political elite, big tech, and Wall Street, and Trump’s authenticity and boldness show that he works for the people, not the other way around. In these uncertain times, his leadership offers a sense of security and direction that people crave,” he stresses.
Internal polls and the Greek American vote
Proud of his roots, Marafatsos is strengthened by his strong Greek Orthodox foundation. Shaped and strengthened by his community, he maintains strong ties with the Greek Orthodox church and the community as a whole. He believes that Greek Americans overwhelmingly support Trump because his policies align with the values most important to the Greek American community: religious freedom, national security, and support for small businesses.
“Our internal polls indicate that as many as 75 percent of Greek Americans back Trump. During his presidency, the economy thrived, reaching historic unemployment lows, and benefiting small business owners—many of whom are Greek Americans.
“Trump has been a staunch defender of Orthodox Christianity and religious rights, both at home and abroad, and his firm stance against Turkish aggression resonates deeply with our community. By standing up for the protection of Greek Orthodox religious freedoms and taking action against Turkey’s provocations, Trump has cemented his role as a leader who understands and supports the Greek American community.”
The Greek American entrepreneur tells Greek Reporter he expects Trump’s second term to build on the foundation of success laid during his first term.
“We can expect even stronger economic growth, driven by further tax cuts and deregulation aimed at creating more jobs. Infrastructure projects, which were initiated during his first term, will likely take center stage, improving highways, bridges, and telecommunications systems across the country.”
He stresses that during a second term, America will remain strong. “Trump’s commitment to ending senseless wars and maintaining peace while negotiating tougher trade deals will ensure America remains strong on the global stage. Having learned valuable lessons from his first term, Trump will be more efficient and effective in pursuing these goals with even more focus and determination.”
Marafatsos notes that Trump’s presidency has been transformative for US-Greek relations, promoting regional stability and significantly strengthening our partnership. His administration offered unwavering support for Greece’s security interests, particularly against Turkish aggression.
“Under Trump, the US shifted away from an over-reliance on Turkey and formed a stronger, more balanced relationship with Greece. In 2020, Greece signed a historic defense agreement with the US, allowing the expansion of American military bases in Greece, which solidified the country’s strategic role in the region.”
Additionally, he notes Trump signed the US-Greece Science and Technology Agreement, boosting American investment in critical sectors such as technology and energy.
“Under Trump, Greece can look forward to increased economic cooperation and a stronger defense partnership, making the country a key ally in the Mediterranean,” Marafatsos tells Greek Reporter.
Related: Will Trump Pull the US Out of NATO if He Wins Election?
