18 Trump voters reveal frustrating economic reality

Billy Edmonson thought his vote for Donald Trump in 2024 would mean financial relief. The 35-year-old construction worker from Missouri backed the president because of his positions on border security, gun rights and economic policy. Now, a year later, he finds himself in an unexpected position: earning the highest salary of his life while barely making ends meet.

Edmonson recalls Trump‘s campaign promises about bringing prices down immediately after taking office. Instead, he says the focus has remained on blaming the previous administration rather than delivering tangible solutions. The independent voter describes his current financial situation as personally frustrating, especially as someone who travels frequently for work and watches motel and grocery costs climb with each trip.

The poll numbers painting a concerning picture

Edmonson represents a slice of Trump’s base that pollsters are now tracking closely. Nearly two-thirds of registered voters, including 30% of Republicans, told NBC News in a recent national poll that Trump has fallen short of their expectations on the cost of living and the economy. The issue that helped propel him back to the White House has become one of the biggest challenges of his second term.

NBC News spoke with 18 Trump voters from that poll who said the president had not met their economic expectations. The network wanted to understand how these supporters were experiencing daily life and whether their political loyalty remained intact.

None regret their choice despite the disappointment

The interviews revealed a complicated relationship between these voters and their economic reality. Not a single person expressed regret about their 2024 vote, largely due to deep frustration with Democrats. While a handful said they would consider supporting Democratic candidates in the future, most plan to continue voting Republican.

1. Susan, a 66-year-old retiree from Nevada, noted the disconnect between administration claims about falling prices and what she sees at checkout counters, where costs continue rising.
2. Jeremiah, a 48-year-old Republican aerospace worker from Utah who has supported Trump in every election, described the president’s economic performance as mediocre. He had hoped to see significant price drops in gas, diesel, utilities and groceries but instead watches costs climb. His adult children exemplify the affordability crisis: his 20-year-old son earns $28 per hour as a welder but cannot afford to live independently.
3. Patty, a 70-year-old Republican retiree from Pennsylvania, placed blame directly on Trump, suggesting his wealthy background prevents him from understanding the daily challenges facing working Americans who must grocery shop and budget carefully.
4. Roxanne Novit, a 69-year-old Colorado retiree who identifies as Republican, expressed surprise that grocery prices have not decreased as promised and instead continue their upward trajectory.

The promise that prices would fall

During his 2024 campaign and the transition period, Trump made a pledge that economists found unrealistic: he would not just stop inflation but actually bring prices down. At a January news conference, he acknowledged the difficulty of reversing price increases but promised drastic reductions.

For voters navigating daily expenses, that commitment became a measuring stick. Edmonson contemplates leaving his traveling construction work because rising costs make it financially questionable. He figures if financial hardship is inevitable, he might as well face it at home.

Some supporters willing to wait

Not everyone in the group had given up hope. 5. Robert Duran, a 68-year-old retired law enforcement officer from Massachusetts who identifies as independent, said he wants faster economic improvement but recognizes that change takes time.

6. William Scheuer, a 68-year-old New Yorker who voted for Trump based on social issues, acknowledged the president has fallen short on prices but expressed confidence in an eventual turnaround.
7. Jason Olson, a 50-year-old small business owner from South Carolina, described watching his regular steak purchase double from $40 to $80. He understands tariffs have contributed to higher prices but supports the goal of bringing manufacturing back to America.
8. Tim Fleming, a 42-year-old factory worker from Tennessee who describes himself as libertarian, felt disappointed by how Trump’s promise not to tax overtime and tips was implemented as a tax deduction rather than immediate relief. However, he credits tariffs with returning jobs to his county that had previously moved to Mexico.

Democrats remain off the table for most

9. Amanda, a 48-year-old postal worker from Missouri, struggles with food prices and budgeting but believes Kamala Harris would have delivered worse results. She would consider an old-school Democrat but not a progressive candidate.
10. Elliot Muegge, a 32-year-old Oklahoma farmer, summed up the conflicted feelings many expressed: he would not change his vote but is not happy with the current situation.

Several voters who remain open to eventually supporting Democrats warned that economic frustration could translate into political losses for Republicans. Patty from Pennsylvania, who has split her ticket previously, suggested the Republican Party faces a rude awakening. Muegge shared a recent conversation with his Republican father who admitted to hating Trump, leaving him wondering how many others share that sentiment privately while maintaining public support.

Vice President JD Vance responded to the economic concerns on social media, arguing the administration inherited difficult conditions and pointing to lower interest rates and inflation as progress markers.

Trump himself dismissed polling showing economic anxiety, telling Fox News that surveys are fake and claiming the country has the greatest economy ever.

For now, these 18 voters illustrate a political paradox: deep disappointment with economic conditions coupled with loyalty to the party and reluctance to consider alternatives.

Source: This article is based on exclusive reporting by NBC News, with interviews conducted by Bridget Bowman, Ben Kamisar, Alexandra Marquez, Juhi Doshi, Owen Auston-Babcock and Maya Rosenberg.