Trump earned billions last year. Some Pennsylvania swing voters say they don't care

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Fresh Air Wild Card with Rachel Martin It's Been a Minute Embedded Get NPR+ More Podcasts & Shows Search Newsletters NPR Shop Get NPR+ Tiny Desk New Music Friday All Songs Considered Music Features Live Sessions About NPR Diversity Support Careers Press Ethics Pennsylvania swing voters are split on Trump's 2025 windfall Key voters in Pennsylvania are split on whether President Trump earning a big windfall last year is a big deal or not. Their reaction reveals a level of cynicism about many in the political class. Politics Trump earned billions last year. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption President Trump's recent financial disclosures reveal his wealth has shot up since taking office again. His family businesses reported revenue last year of $2.2 billion — largely earnings from cryptocurrency. But key voters in Pennsylvania have mixed views on whether this is a big deal or not, indicating a level of cynicism about many in the political class. These were among the views expressed by participants of two online focus groups that NPR observed on Tuesday. The focus groups were made up of 12 Pennsylvania voters total. Half the participants, when asked, said they were "troubled" by Trump's windfall in office. The other half waved it off. Politics Trump leans on 'communist' messaging as economic angst drives Democrats "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. (All participants agreed to be part of the focus groups on the condition that they be identified by their first name and last initial only.) "So, the fact that he's a known huckster," Todd continued, "I mean, we've known that for years about him." "It really was flooring to me that they felt that way," said Rich Thau, who moderated the focus groups. "The excuses that they gave, which is, you know, 'This is the kind of thing that rich people do. They use money to make more money. All politicians do this kind of thing. They're all corrupt…' That's the voice of extremely cynical voters whose expectations for politicians are remarkably low." Thau is president of messaging firm Engagious, which partners with market researcher Sago and NPR to conduct monthly focus groups with swing voters across the country. Focus groups are not polling, so there isn't anything scientifically significant to draw from these conversations. Politics These Wisconsin swing voters say Trump's war in Iran wasn't worth it But they do provide insight into how key voters who helped get Trump reelected feel about the choice they made. And while a recent survey found the vast majority of voters are concerned about corruption writ large in American government, these Pennsylvania focus group participants are mixed on how they feel about Trump's behavior. Betsy D., a 48-year-old Republican, was among those voters. She said Trump was exhibiting "typical behavior" from a businessman, as well as a politician. "I am not saying it's OK," she said. "I'm just not troubled by it because I just think it's typical for politicians to increase their wealth while in office." Ken J., a 44-year-old Republican, said he wasn't particularly concerned that Trump has become significantly wealthier in office because it didn't seem to him that Trump's money was made in an "illegal way." "He's a businessman," he said. "He openly admitted it. This isn't a shock to me or anybody else. He's admitted in the past that he's going to continue running his empire while he's in his president's seat. I was fully aware of that. And if we're talking insider trading, we're talking kickbacks, we're talking something like that, it might be a little bit different." But for voters like Bhavana G., a 54-year-old independent voter, news of Trump's earnings in office was a concern. "For me, when I see that, the first thing that comes to my mind is abuse of power," she said. She added that Trump doesn't get a pass because he is also a businessman. "It is not the businessman Donald Trump who's interacting," she said. "It is the president, Donald Trump, who's using his powers in manipulative ways to draw something that is of his personal interest. And that to me is morally wrong, and that itself should be a problem — and is a problem to me." Margaret M., a 58-year-old independent voter, said she's worried that people who Trump is doing business with would have undue influence over him. "I would just be worried that whoever he's doing business with would then have his ear a little bit more or be wanting to have some 'favors' or some leniency that might not be totally on the up and up," she said. Politics McConnell says a fall led to his hospitalization, breaking weeks of silence Here are two other takeaways from the focus groups: Sponsor Message Become an NPR sponsor