Swing Voters Project, June 2025: North Carolina

In this Article

• North Carolina Swing Voters Back Trump’s L.A. Response—But Not Without Concerns
• Why Others Disapprove
• Support for Broader Immigration Enforcement
• Mixed Reactions to Trump’s Rhetoric
• Views on Democrats and Immigration
• Arresting Governor Newsom?
• Trump vs. Biden on Corruption

shortly after the ICE protests started taking place in Los Angeles in June 2025. Most of these swing voters expressed support for President Donald Trump’s recent actions in Los Angeles. However, many voiced reservations about his approach, language, and handling of civil rights.

The Swing Voter Project is a collaboration between Sago, Engagious and Axios. Each month’s focus groups feature voters from one of seven key battleground states. The respondents voted for Joe Biden in 2020 and Trump in 2024.

North Carolina Swing Voters Back Trump’s L.A. Response, But Not Without Concerns

Seven of the 12 North Carolina swing voters interviewed in June approve of President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles. Three disapprove, and two are undecided.

Those who support the move often cited the perceived lack of local control and the threat to civilians:

“It’s gotten out of control and violent… I don’t think it’s going to get under control with what they have there now.”

“California doesn’t want to stop it… So we need to bring it up another level.”

“The people that are protesting are basically assaulting the ICE agents.”

Why Others Disapprove

Not everyone in the group felt the president acted appropriately, with comments such as:

“There needs to be… agreement in coming together with the governor of that state.”

“Historically, California does not respond to social issues that way. It’s just not going to work out. It needs to be handled quite a bit differently.”

Support for Broader Immigration Enforcement

While there was some discomfort with tactics like ICE arrests at courtrooms or big-box stores, the majority of voters (nine out of 12) believe undocumented immigrants should be arrested and deported even if they haven’t committed additional crimes.

“If they’re here undocumented, they are committing a crime.”

“You and I as American citizens should not be in competition for resources with 20 million people that have no business here.”

Mixed Reactions to Trump’s Rhetoric

Even those who support Trump’s actions don’t necessarily support his words.

When shown a post in which the president described L.A. as being taken over by “violent insurrectionist mobs,” none of the voters felt the language was accurate.

“There are violent mobs… but the city hasn’t been overrun by anybody. It’s embellished.”

“It sounds like a horde of Mongols is riding in… That’s not quite what’s happening.”

“Everything he says is such an exaggeration that it becomes ridiculous.”

Views on Democrats and Immigration

Eight of the 12 voters believe Democrats prioritize illegal immigrants over American citizens. Their reasoning ranged from perceived government spending to responses to recent events:

“They directly took money away from FEMA… to support the immigration issue.”

“As a US citizen, I’m not the bad guy. I just want things to be done the right way.”

“People like Gavin Newsom are defending those who are rioting… it’s pretty obvious.”

Arresting Governor Newsom?

In a hypothetical scenario, six respondents said they would support President Trump arresting California Governor Gavin Newsom if he actively blocked deportation efforts.

“I think that you do have to respect chain of command. He can express his opinions for sure, but disobeying a direct order is what devolves into chaos.”

Trump vs. Biden on Corruption

These focus groups also asked about perceived corruption of Trump and Biden. Five of the 12 respondents said Joe Biden is corrupt. Six said the same of Trump.

After reviewing a New York Times editorial listing alleged examples of Trump-related corruption, the two most troubling to respondents were:

• Trump’s real estate projects in the Middle East.
• His acceptance of a $200 million plane from Qatar.

Also noteworthy was the unease some felt about Trump pardoning a donor’s relative, though other allegations (like a $40M deal for Melania Trump’s documentary) barely registered.