shortly after the ICE protests started taking place in Los Angeles in June 2025. Most of these swing voters expressed support for President Donald Trump’s recent actions in Los Angeles. However, many voiced reservations about his approach, language, and handling of civil rights.
The Swing Voter Project is a collaboration between Sago, Engagious and Axios. Each month’s focus groups feature voters from one of seven key battleground states. The respondents voted for Joe Biden in 2020 and Trump in 2024.
North Carolina Swing Voters Back Trump’s L.A. Response, But Not Without Concerns
Seven of the 12 North Carolina swing voters interviewed in June approve of President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles. Three disapprove, and two are undecided.
Those who support the move often cited the perceived lack of local control and the threat to civilians:
“It’s gotten out of control and violent… I don’t think it’s going to get under control with what they have there now.”
“California doesn’t want to stop it… So we need to bring it up another level.”
“The people that are protesting are basically assaulting the ICE agents.”