As Trump Enters Second Year, Supporters Voice Hope — Alongside Growing Concerns

As U.S. President Donald Trump enters the second year of his second term, many of his voters say they remain supportive of his leadership, though an increasing number are urging him to soften his rhetoric and refocus on domestic priorities.

Trump voters are calling on the president to place greater emphasis on immigration reform, healthcare, reducing government waste and fraud, and lowering the country’s mounting national debt. While support for Trump remains strong among his base, concerns are emerging about divisive language and foreign policy distractions.

Joyce Kenney, a 74-year-old retiree from Prescott Valley, Arizona, says she is even more satisfied with Trump today than when she voted for him in 2024.
“I would gladly vote for him any time,” she said.

Kenney supports Trump’s crackdown on government waste, efforts to lower costs for senior citizens, and tougher action against criminal immigrants. However, she also believes the administration should adopt a more compassionate approach toward undocumented immigrants who obey the law.

“He needs to find a gentler way on the illegal aliens, not to just say everything’s black or white, because there is a lot of gray in everything,” Kenney said. “We need to show a lot more humanity to people that are not Americans as well.”

Her views reflect broader sentiments among Trump voters interviewed by Reuters. As the president faces nationwide protests over immigration policies, rising cost-of-living pressures, and diplomatic tensions with countries ranging from Denmark to Colombia, Reuters spoke with 20 Trump voters across the country about their expectations for the year ahead.

Reuters has interviewed the same group of voters monthly over the past year. Many said they want Trump to deliver further change as Republicans prepare to defend their control of Congress in November’s midterm elections.

Among those interviewed, six expressed almost no criticism of Trump’s presidency so far, while three said they were deeply dissatisfied with his performance last year. The remaining 11 offered mixed assessments, though none said they regretted voting for him.

The most frequently cited priorities were immigration reform and stronger attention to domestic issues such as healthcare reform, reducing fraud in public programs, and lowering the national debt. Fourteen voters said they were disappointed by Trump’s recent rhetoric about annexing foreign territories and his tendency to inflame divisions through social media.

“I would like him to really focus way more on America,” said Robert Billups, a 34-year-old unemployed accountant from Washington state.