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Donald Trump returned to the White House with strong backing from his base, but a year into his second term, even loyal supporters are asking for course corrections. Their message is not rejection, it’s refinement. They want results on everyday issues that directly shape American lives.

Interviews with Trump voters across the country show broad approval of his first year, paired with growing impatience over rhetoric, immigration rigidity, and rising fiscal concerns.

A loyal base, but with clear expectations

Joyce Kenney, a 74-year-old retiree in Prescott Valley, Arizona, has no regrets about her 2024 vote. In fact, she says she feels even better about her choice today.

Kenney credits Trump with pushing back against government waste, fraud, and inefficiency. She also supports tougher action against immigrants with criminal records. But she believes the president needs to strike a more humane balance.

In her view, immigration is not a simple legal-versus-illegal divide. Many undocumented immigrants have spent years contributing to U.S. communities, raising families, and working steadily. Kenney argues that policy should reflect that reality.

Her message is echoed by Trump voters interviewed by Reuters over the past year, supporters who largely approve of his agenda but want more nuance, especially on domestic policy.

Applause for year one, pressure for year two

Nearly all of the 20 voters Reuters spoke with praised Trump’s first-year performance. They backed initiatives that have alarmed critics, including aggressive immigration enforcement, tariffs on foreign goods, deep federal workforce cuts, and confrontations with foreign leaders.

Still, approval does not equal complacency.

As Trump heads into the second year of his term, and with midterm elections looming in November—supporters say they expect tangible progress on issues closer to home.

Six voters expressed almost no criticism of Trump so far. Three were deeply dissatisfied. The remaining majority offered mixed reviews but remained firm that they did not regret backing him.

Across the group, one theme dominated: domestic priorities should come first.

“Focus more on America”

Immigration reform topped the list of voter demands, followed closely by healthcare affordability, cutting fraud in public programs, and reducing the national debt.

Fourteen of the voters said they were frustrated by Trump’s recent rhetoric about annexing foreign territories and his habit of stoking controversy on social media.

Robert Billups, a 34-year-old unemployed accountant in Washington state, said the president should narrow his focus.

Billups voted for Trump hoping for cheaper healthcare and clearer government spending. While he hasn’t seen major progress yet, he still believes Trump was the best option in the 2024 race.

A White House spokesperson said the administration remains focused on lowering inflation, boosting growth, securing the border, and deporting criminal offenders, according to a Reuters report.

Concerns over tone and constitutional limits

Not all criticism was policy-driven. Some voters said Trump’s confrontational style risks overshadowing his achievements.

Steve Egan, a 65-year-old promotional products distributor in Tampa, gave the president poor marks for trade policies, clashes with judges, and aggressive foreign rhetoric.

Egan said his main hope is that Trump avoids pushing the country toward a constitutional crisis.

While he remains skeptical of Democrats, Egan suggested that a more measured alternative—regardless of party, could win his vote in the future.

Immigration reform remains unfinished business

Among all issues raised, immigration reform stood out as the most urgent and unresolved.

Many voters said they support border security and deportations of violent offenders. But they also want a clear, realistic pathway to legal status for immigrants who have lived in the U.S. for years without committing crimes.

Trump supported limited legalization measures during his first term. Since returning to office, he has not revived those efforts.

Juan Rivera, a 26-year-old content creator near San Diego and a Latino outreach organizer for California Republicans, said that gap has disappointed many voters.

Rivera believes immigration reform was a decisive factor in Trump’s 2024 victory among Latino and Asian American voters. Ignoring it now, he warned, could hurt Republicans in the midterms.

Voices from across the country

In Pennsylvania, Brandon Neumeister, a corrections worker and former National Guardsman, said productive immigrants should not be uprooted after decades in U.S. communities.

He argued that the administration should streamline legal pathways instead of defaulting to deportation for long-settled families.

Lesa Sandberg, an accountant and property manager in Utah, agreed. While she supports strict border enforcement, she wants equal emphasis on legal residency options for non-criminal immigrants.

According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement data cited by Reuters, about 44% of the roughly 60,000 people in ICE detention as of late January had no pending criminal charges or prior convictions.

Economic optimism, fiscal anxiety

Many Trump voters said they feel personally better off than a year ago.

Sandberg said deregulation and tax cuts have helped her business, and she’s noticed lower gas prices. However, she remains uneasy about rising military spending and unclear budget math.

She questioned how the administration plans to fund a dramatic defense increase while also cutting the federal workforce through the Department of Government Efficiency.

Balancing the federal budget and slowing debt growth, she said, should be Trump’s top priority going forward.

“Just chill”

Terry Alberta, a 65-year-old pilot in Michigan, said the economy feels strong from his perspective. Still, he expected deeper cuts to government waste.

Instead, Alberta worries that spending is simply being shifted rather than reduced.

He also urged Trump to dial down personal attacks on critics, saying constant confrontation distracts from policy wins.

In Georgia, mechanical engineer David Ferguson said Trump should continue pushing manufacturing back to the U.S., even if tariffs remain controversial.

Ferguson acknowledged Trump’s abrasive style but believes it can be effective when paired with clear economic goals.

What comes next

As midterm elections approach, Trump faces a familiar challenge: energizing his base while broadening his appeal.

The voters who spoke to Reuters are not abandoning him. Instead, they are asking him to evolve, less rhetoric, more results, and policies that reflect the complexity of modern America.

Whether Trump responds to that message could shape not only the next election cycle, but the long-term direction of his presidency.

(With inputs from Reuters.)

 

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