The Deciders: How Voters Under 30 View Trump’s Presidency

Key Takeaways

Though all 14 participants voted for Donald Trump in 2024, nine now say they disapprove of his performance.
Participants described the Democratic Party in harsh terms, signaling strong partisan resentment even among those dissatisfied with Trump. Despite disappointment with both parties, few said they would change their 2024 vote.
While they support free expression, many agreed public figures should avoid politically charged speech.

In September, The Deciders checked in with 14 voters under the age of 30 who supported Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. The group included young adults from key swing states. While all voted for Trump last November, nine now say they disapprove of his administration’s performance so far.
Each month, The Deciders speaks with voters whose choices may have an outsized impact on the next election. The initiative is a partnership between Sago, Engagious, NBC News, and Syracuse University’s Institute for Democracy, Journalism and Citizenship.

Disclaimer: The opinions and quotes shared below reflect the views of the participating voters and do not represent the perspectives of Sago or its partners.

Why They Voted for Trump in 2024

When asked why they supported Trump last year, participants cited values, familiarity, and financial concerns:

“He has more established relationships. He also had a political background, and he had more conservative values than Kamala did.”

“It was mainly the Christian values thing — specifically pro-life.”

“It was mainly for the financial stance of the country.”

“It just felt like the lesser of two evils.”

Why Some Now Disapprove

Nine of the 14 participants said they no longer approve of Trump’s performance so far, though many were conflicted:

“I approve of how he’s doing with the economy, but I don’t approve of how certain situations are being handled with deportation.”

“I approve on the economy stuff but disapprove when it comes to immigration and the war in Gaza.”

“My trust in the administration has completely nosedived because of how he’s mishandled things like immigration or the war.”

“I feel like he switched positions … saying the Epstein files were a huge deal to saying they weren’t.”

Still, only one respondent said they would vote differently if given a do-over and would choose Kamala Harris instead.

Views of the Democratic Party

When asked to describe today’s Democratic Party, the group’s responses were overwhelmingly negative:

“Emotionally unintelligent.”
“Opportunistic.”
“Tunnel vision.”
“Divisive.”
“Crybabies.”
“Spiteful.”
“Chaotic.”

Reactions to the Charlie Kirk Assassination

The recent assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk deeply affected many of these young voters. Five said the killing had a “profound” personal impact.

“It kind of instills fear … seeing someone who’s just peacefully speaking out assassinated in broad daylight.”

“I just don’t think to take someone’s life in that way for having an opinion, at least not in America.”

“It affected me very deeply because … it felt like anyone could be hurt just for talking about what they believe in.”

Disappointment in Friends’ Reactions

Several were also shaken by how peers reacted to Kirk’s death:

“I was blown away by how hateful people could be.”

“I wasn’t expecting the amount of hate they had for him.”

“I saw friends rejoicing about his death … we’re not really friends anymore.”

“I didn’t think my friends from either party would react that way. I thought I surrounded myself with much better people that were much more moral and more caring.”

Debating Free Speech

The group discussed free speech in light of the controversy over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension and reinstatement. While opinions varied, most participants agreed he had “gone too far.”

“I don’t think talk show hosts should talk about politics … taking him off the air would help everybody think on their own.”

“It was insensitive and way too soon. He’s supposed to be an entertainer, not create dividing conflicts.”

None of the participants said they feared expressing their own political opinions, and most opposed government action against people for speech — even hateful speech.

Mistrust of the Government on Healthcare

Only two respondents said they trust the Trump administration to guide them on healthcare issues.

“I’m not going to trust anybody profiting off of me to make my health decisions.”

“I don’t think a government should be deciding how to keep you healthy.”

“Sometimes I think food could be deliberately made like that for population control.”

Closing

As this group of under-30 voters weighs its faith in the President, both parties face a challenge: restoring trust among a generation that feels disillusioned, skeptical, and deeply divided.