I think that people get hung up on the word "judge" because many of us are taught not to be "judgemental" which I would say, is more akin to harshly, rashly, and arbitrarily judging people.
We all, whether we try to or not, make determinations about people. Otherwise everyone would be our friend/foe, etc... I relate to family members differently than strangers, or people who I work with but am not too close to.
We cannot, as far as I am aware, read people's minds. We don't know what they are thinking and feeling. We can only determine things from their actions and from what they say. Sometimes what people say and what they do, is not congruous. Sometimes people lie. Sometimes circumstances create pressures to act in ways that are not compatible with stated values, etc...
So, the only way that we can determine whether someone might be "decent" or not, or "caring" or not is to observe them. Look at how they act and what they say over a period of time.
Let's take an easy person, who you mentioned in the body of your post. Donald Trump. He has said repeatedly, "I am the LEAST racist person." Okay, let's examine behaviors.
1. Fred and Donald Trump were sued, and settled with the government for willfully discriminating against Black renters. The case evidence indicated that applications that were flagged for belonging to Black applicants for denial were marked with an N at the top of the application.
2. Donald Trump said, "I don't think Blacks should be my accountants. I want my accountants to be wearing the 'funny little hats' (a reference to the Yamalke that Jewish men wear)" Trump likely thought that was a positive statement about Jewish people being "good with money" even though it is a stereotype that has historically had very negative connotations and consequences for Jewish people.
3. Donald Trump took out full page ads calling for the execution of Black and Brown young men known as the Central Park 5. He called them thugs and animals. When they were exonerated, Trump refused to apologize and doubled down on his assessment of these INNOCENT and railroaded victims of injustice as "animals".
4. Donald Trump calls immigrants (from the global South) "invaders" and says they are "poisoning the blood" of the nation.
Whatever internal process is happening in Trump's brain, his actions are clear indicators that he knows about and feels comfortable using bigoted and racist language. Most of us know the language. If you grew up in the United States and weren't incredibly sheltered, you have heard the slurs and experienced the attitudes. Many of us who understand the harm that these words, actions, and attitudes have on others, make a conscious effort not to use those words or carry those attitudes.
People who continue to see Trump as a "good" person or viable representative for the government, are at very minimum comfortable enough with those same words, actions, and attitudes to continue their support. All we really have to go on is what we can observe. Fortunately, Trump is not able to hide his behavior. He is a known liar. He has decades of documented behavior from which to make a determination. Again, if people continue to support him, then they are being willfully ignorant, or they tacitly support his views.
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