Focus groups: Michigan swing voters don't want National Guard
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Members of the U.S. National Guard patrol at Union Station in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 14, 2025. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
Michigan swing voters in our latest Engagious/Sago focus groups strongly oppose the idea of President Trump sending the National Guard into their cities, citing concerns about militarizing the police, or gentrification.
Why it matters: All 13 of the voters interviewed backed Trump in last year's presidential election, and most, on balance, still see him favorably. But they don't think this is a job for the National Guard. And the closer it gets to their own homes, the less they like it.
- Only one respondent said they'd hypothetically support sending the Guard to Detroit to combat crime; just two support his sending the Guard to Chicago.
- Three approved of sending the Guard to the nation's capital, while six disapproved and four weren't sure.
What they're saying: "We already kind of militarized the police force enough; we don't need to send the actual military," said Tristen T., 26, of Battle Creek.
- Autonio R., 28, of Waterford, said he suspects it's about "gentrifying the area ... That's going bring all this heavy police force there, clear all those Black [residents], move 'em somewhere different, more inland ... He going to buy their properties, his friends going to buy."
The big picture: Twelve of the 13 said they still support Trump overall, some citing his willingness to take on the status quo and promises to bring back manufacturing. Some said the tariffs haven't been as bad as they feared, or that they have faith the economy will improve.
- Cletis G., 38, of Detroit, said he approves of the president because "he's not afraid to make any bold changes and pretty much shake up the government structure."
But several also said they're conflicted, expressing concerns about overreaching executive powers, immigration actions and tariffs, and rising prices. One is angry he was "rolling out the red carpet" for Putin; another mentioned the Epstein files.
- Eight of the 13 say his immigrations actions and use of ICE go too far, while five say he's gotten it right.
- Eight said Trump is exercising more executive power than former Presidents Biden, Obama or George W. Bush.
How it works: Axios observed two online focus groups Monday night that include 13 Michigan residents who voted for Joe Biden in 2020 and Donald Trump in 2024. Three are Democrats, nine are independents and one is a Republican.
- A focus group is not a statistically significant sample like a poll, but the responses show how some voters are thinking and talking about current events.
Between the lines: "While most of these Michigan swing voters support President Trump, they prefer he focus on priorities other than using National Guard troops as urban crime-fighters," said Rich Thau, president of Engagious, who moderated the focus groups.
What we're watching: Most participants said California Gov. Gavin Newsom's trolling of Trump or trying to adopt Trump's attack style doesn't work for them. One compared Newsom to the food product "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter!" saying rather than the substitute, "You want butter."
- They said they preferred their Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's approach, which has included meeting with Trump three times this year.
