Undecided voters, instrumental in Trump's 2016 victories, show varied reactions towards his potential reelection in 2024
In the heart of North Carolina, Janice Dunn, an 82-year-old resident, expresses her disappointment with President Trump due to the sweeping federal employee layoffs and rising prices, particularly as a result of his tariff policies. Her sentiments are echoed by Jorge, a Florida independent who backed Trump last year but now harbours skepticism and would not vote for him again.
These voters, who switched their support from Biden or did not vote in 2020, were optimistic about change under a second Trump presidency, especially regarding the economy and immigration issues. However, polls from mid-2025 indicate that just 37% of all voters approve of Trump's economic approach, down from 42% earlier in the year, with the decline largely driven by independents. Younger voters, a demographic Trump made gains with in 2024, show strong negative views, with 60% saying Trump's policies harm the economy and worsen their financial situation.
Among these voters, opinion of Trump's economic policies appears notably mixed but leaning toward dissatisfaction, especially among younger and independent voters. Scott, a 29-year-old Missourian, flipped from Biden in 2020 to Trump in 2024 and is happy with Trump's presidency so far. However, Ray, a New York voter in his mid-30s, supported Trump in 2024 after voting for Biden in 2020, but is not satisfied with Trump's fulfillment of his economic promises.
The controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein has clouded some of these voters' views of Trump. Scott, the Missouri voter, has somewhat dampened his support for Trump due to the Epstein matter but is still observing how it unfolds. Stephen in California, a Trump supporter, is angered by Trump's handling of the Justice Department's files related to the Epstein case. Despite his anger, Stephen would still vote for Trump again if given the chance to redo his 2024 vote.
Public opinion polls have shown Trump's approval rating declining since he took office, though not as far as at this point in his first term. Jorge, who was initially optimistic about Trump's economic policies, is unhappy with Trump's handling of the economy, as he promised to boost the economy and bring down prices during the campaign. The views of Ray and Jorge highlight the diverse opinions among swing voters who helped re-elect Trump.
In Congress, the Epstein files issue is not going away, with Democrats planning stops in GOP districts. The controversy, coupled with concerns over trade tariffs and inflation, contributes to Trump's economy-related approval ratings being in the negative or barely positive territory among this voter subset. Overall, while Trump’s core base largely supports his economic policies, those who shifted support from Biden in 2020 to Trump in 2024 tend to view his economic policies—especially trade tariffs and inflation efforts—less favorably, reflecting concerns about worsening economic conditions under his administration.
- Despite initially being optimistic about Trump's economic policies, Jorge, an initial supporter, is unhappy with Trump's handling of the economy, mirroring the sentiments of other voters who switched their support from Biden in 2020 to Trump in 2024.
- The controversy surrounding Jeffrey Epstein has affected the views of some voters, such as Scott from Missouri, who still supports Trump after flipping from Biden in 2020, but has slightly dampened his support due to the Epstein matter.
- Among this voter subset, public opinion polls show Trump's approval rating being in the negative or barely positive territory, which could be attributed to concerns over trade tariffs, inflation, and the Epstein controversy, as well as policies that they believe harm the economy and worsen their financial situation.
