Swing voters who backed Trump in 2024 are cooling on the president

NPR released a year-long analysis of swing voters on Thursday, detailing the shifting opinions of Americans who supported Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024. The network, a partner in the Swing Voter Project, tracked these voters through monthly online focus groups. The groups are operated by messaging firm Engagious and market research recruiter Nelson Recruiting.

The data shows these voters quickly developed negative views of President Trump. Participants drew a direct line between the president's specific decisions and their personal feelings about the economy. This connection suggests that economic dissatisfaction is a primary driver of their current political stance.

The analysis found that Democratic candidates are also struggling to gain favor with this group. The data indicates a convergence among voters on the left and the right. Both groups show increased support for economic populism, a trend that cuts across traditional party lines.

Technology remains a major point of contention for these voters. The group expressed broad concern about the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. They also voiced specific worries regarding the proliferation of data centers in their communities.

NPR aired a one-hour special titled "Swing voters and the issues that matter" to discuss these findings. Ben Swasey edited the program, which was produced by Lexie Schapitl. The special offers a deeper look at how these voters view the upcoming election cycle.