Young Trump voters detail frustration with him on the economy and immigration in new focus groups

President Donald Trump’s victory last year was fueled in part by improvement among young voters.

President Donald Trump’s victory last year was fueled in part by improvement among young voters. But new focus groups reveal why some young voters who backed Trump are beginning to sour on his administration’s approach to immigration and the economy.

“I believe my trust in the administration has completely nosedived because of how he’s mishandled things,” said Anthony H., a 22-year-old Republican from Nevada, pointing to immigration and foreign affairs.

Anthony was one of 14 swing-state Trump voters under age 30 who participated in recent focus groups observed by NBC News as part of the 2025 "Deciders" series, produced by Syracuse University and the research firms Engagious and Sago.

These voters were a key part of Trump’s coalition in 2024, as he made gains among 18-to-29-year-old voters, especially young men, compared to his 2020 loss. Trump won 43% of young voters in this age group last year after winning 36% of them in 2020, according to the NBC News Exit Poll. The exit poll also showed Trump winning 49% of young men in 2024, compared to 48% for then-Vice President Kamala Harris, while Trump trailed among young women, winning 38% of that group.

Of the 14 young Trump voters who participated in the recent focus groups, nine said they disapproved of Trump’s overall job performance so far, while five approved. The group included eight self-identified independents and six Republicans.