President Trump recently spoke at an event in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. New financial reports show his wealth has increased substantially since returning to office. His family businesses reported revenue of $2.2 billion last year, much of it coming from cryptocurrency. However, voters in Pennsylvania have mixed reactions.
NPR observed two online focus groups of 12 Pennsylvania voters on Tuesday. Half the participants expressed concern about Trump’s financial gains. The other half dismissed the issue.
“When it comes to ethics, moral and financial, I think that just about every politician is corrupt,” said Todd A., a 62-year-old independent voter.
Todd continued, acknowledging Trump’s reputation over the years as a known huckster. Rich Thau, president of messaging firm Engagious, moderated the focus groups, noting the cynicism among voters.
The participants are not part of a scientific poll, but their comments offer insights into how key voters feel about the choice they made in electing Trump. A recent survey highlights that many voters worry about widespread corruption in the American government, but opinions on Trump’s financial conduct remain divided among these participants.
Betsy D., a 48-year-old Republican, described Trump’s actions as typical for a businessman and politician, although she disagrees with them.
“It’s typical for politicians to increase their wealth while in office,” she said.
Ken J., a 44-year-old Republican, found Trump’s wealth increase unsurprising since it doesn’t seem illegal to him.
“He admitted he’d run his empire while in office,” he said.
In contrast, Bhavana G., a 54-year-old independent voter, expressed concern over what she sees as an abuse of power by Trump.
“It is the president, Donald Trump, who’s using his powers to draw personal interest,” she said.
Margaret M., a 58-year-old independent voter, worries that Trump’s business dealings might influence his decisions politically.
“I worry about who he’s doing business with and their influence on him,” she said.
Other takeaways from the focus groups include perspectives on politicians’ health and ongoing armed conflict with Iran:
- When considering prolonged absences due to health, eight participants believe representatives should disclose their condition, while four support privacy during health challenges.
- Regarding the U.S. returning to conflict with Iran, only seven people knew the ceasefire ended, and two believe Trump can resolve the conflict by year-end.
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