Trump Supporters in the Midwest Stand Firm on Tariffs and Real Change

Americans in the heartland are sticking with Donald Trump, tariffs and all, despite pundits predicting economic pain would shake their loyalty. Kind of wild, but here we are.

After Trump declared "Liberation Day" with a wave of tariffs before pausing for trade talks, critics—Democrats, some Republicans, and a chorus of pollsters—claimed Americans would turn on him, with polls showing worries about wallet pain. But after roaming through West Virginia, Indiana, and Kentucky, there's not a single Trump voter regretting their pick, even with the threat of pricier Barbie dolls or a jittery stock market.

In Jeffersonville, Indiana, I met Terry and Cassandra. They're in their late 60s, run a small business flying horse trainers to events like the Kentucky Derby, and live in Arizona. Terry told me, "We need change, and that can hurt at first. Trump needs time to make that change." Cassandra nodded in agreement, emphasizing that it's about real, lasting change—not just talk. It's a straightforward "no pain, no gain" philosophy, but somehow, the experts in New York and D.C. are still scratching their heads about it. Sometimes I wonder if pollsters ever leave their air-conditioned offices.

Pollster Frank Luntz was recently floored, saying, "I've never seen this before. Usually, when you're hurt economically, that changes your perspective and your politics. Not with these people. They're staying firm." The real surprise might be that anyone is surprised—Trump voters, it turns out, are just that fed up with business as usual.

Let's not forget, America elected Donald Trump president—twice. That doesn't scream, "let's just tweak things a little." Trump's supporters want big change, even if it stings a bit. They aren't running away just because the markets are moody or their favorite toys cost more.

At the Voss Clark plant in Indiana, I talked to Doug and Danny—management and labor, boss and friend. They're still all-in for Trump, but what excites them most isn't tariffs; it's the promise to end taxes on overtime. Doug believes it would encourage younger workers to make sacrifices and keep America running. I saw this energy myself at the plant, where workers were still cleaning steel at 10 p.m., working overnight to get the job done.

It helps that over half of Voss Clark's workers pull in more than $100,000 a year. In southern Indiana, that's enough to buy a house and raise a family. So much for the myth that Americans won't do these jobs. These folks are proud of their work, and they'd appreciate a little more take-home pay for their sacrifices.

Despite opposition from both liberal and conservative media, Trump's supporters aren't budging. For the first time in decades, working Americans in places like Jeffersonville feel like they've got a president in their corner—someone who puts their needs ahead of Wall Street and the so-called "intelligentsia." They know Trump’s policies could flop. They're not naive. But they didn't vote for a minor tune-up; they voted to knock down the old system, even if things get bumpy along the way.