Swing Voter Project, April 2025: Pennsylvania

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Key Takeaways

  • Two-thirds of Pennsylvania swing voters approve President Donald Trump’s policies during the first months of his second term.
  • Voters continue to worry about the economy and rising prices.
  • While nearly half the voters were in favor of Trump’s tariff policies, only two said the president has clearly communicated his tariff plan and its goals.

In April 2025, the Swing Voter Project sat down with 13 Pennsylvania swing voters to get their unfiltered take on the state of the economy, and tariffs were front and center. These voters didn’t hold back as they shared their top financial concerns and reacted to President Donald Trump’s latest tariff moves.

The voters who take part in these monthly focus groups live in one of seven key battleground states. They voted for Joe Biden in 2020 and for Trump in 2024. The Swing Voter Project is a collaboration between Sago, Engagious and Axios.

Why Pennsylvania Swing Voters Still Support Trump

The Pennsylvania swing voters have some questions and concerns about Trump’s second administration. Still, nine of the 13 still approve of the president’s policies so far. Here’s some of what they had to say:

“I think we needed a change and we weren’t heading in a very good direction before.”

“He’s doing what he said he was going to do.”

“We’re overspending and that was one of his promises, and it’s nice to see it actually implemented and some of his ways of doing it are kind of shocking, but it always hurts to be put on a budget.”

“I’ve seen him and I approve, because I do believe the fact that he’s working with other countries and that he is really trying to make America great again.”

“I approve, because I do believe that there are decades worth of stuff, I will call it, that needed to be corrected. He was the right man for the job — a little more polish, a little less used car salesman, would be nice.”

Reasons Some Pennsylvania Voters Don’t Approve of Trump

Four of the 13 Pennsylvania swing voters were less supportive of Trump and his actions during the first few months of his second term. Here are a few of their comments:

“I feel as though the plan hasn’t been assessed enough. So I feel like it’s being more reactive instead of being proactive.”

“I agree with America first, and that is one of the reasons that I voted for him. I don’t believe it’s happening now.”

“He always says he’s thinking about citizens, but all of these layoffs are affecting American people.”

Concerns About the US Economy

Eight of the 13 focus group participants admitted to feeling more anxious about the US economy in April 2025 than when Trump took office in January. Their comments included:

“When he first came into office, I had high hopes that he would restore the economy to what it was before. But now with these trade wars, all these news agencies are saying that prices are going to go up on so many goods. I’m just concerned that prices are going to be going up again.”

“I think the anxiety for me is just not being able to pinpoint anything and not understanding the plan because it’s just too many moving parts.”

“Well, it’s the uncertainty of the future. I mean, there is a lot going on right now.”

“The tariffs and the concern that we’re going to start to see an increase in prices almost across the board and probably within the next 30 to 60 days.”

“My budget, my household budget is not going as going as far as it used to, and everything has gone up, especially utilities. It’s making hard to make ends meet.”

“Specifically, things like the stock market. I expected that to be flourishing when he came in office. I did not have the expectations that it would pan out the way it has.”

“I don’t see the end game in this tariff game. I don’t know what the future looks like.”

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Opinions on Trump’s Tariffs

Six of the Pennsylvania swing voters support the tariffs Trump has placed on goods imported from other countries. Here’s what they had to say about why they’re in favor of the tariffs:

“To bring jobs back here that, in the last 25 years, have been going to China, going to Mexico, going to Canada, going to India.”

“It’s too easy for us to go and buy something that’s $2 from China when it’s $5 made in the USA. So the tariffs, at least, even the playing field for local vendors and local people to do it.”

“I do think that, ultimately, free trade is the best way to go. It’s clear, without some sort of incentive, that’s drifted away in other countries. So, I’m hoping, long-term, that we eliminate them … I don’t know a better way to get to the solution.”

I didn’t think we were going to have tariffs for the foreseeable future, years from now. This was something to kind of get everybody’s attention and then sit down and hash it out.”

Views on Trump’s Tariff Communication

Only two of the Pennsylvania swing voters said that Trump has done a good job explaining why tariffs are needed. The other voters shared thoughts such as:

“He’s all about the action of putting tariffs in place, but he hasn’t communicated the outcome. He says, oh, more money’s coming in, we’ll curb fentanyl, we’ll bring manufacturing back. Manufacturing doesn’t happen overnight. It takes years and years to build an infrastructure for manufacturing.”

“The trade deficit was part of the plan and it wasn’t explained until way after the fact.”

“He probably doesn’t think that the American people are smart enough to understand what he is doing.”

As Trump second term continues, the Swing Voter Project will be discussing his actions and other current events with voters. Check in each month to hear the latest.

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