Donald Trump, a candidate who has long claimed to champion rural America, may be on the verge of betraying some of his most ardent supporters, according to a report by The Atlantic. The president-elect’s proposed policies, including sweeping tariffs, mass deportations, and significant budget cuts, could wreak havoc on rural communities that overwhelmingly supported him in the last election.
A Threat to Rural Livelihoods
Trump’s plan to impose harsh tariffs on foreign trading partners could have catastrophic consequences for U.S. agricultural producers. Farmers, many of whom rely on global markets, were already hit hard during Trump’s first term when retaliatory tariffs slashed the value of American agricultural exports. Although the federal government provided over $660 billion in aid to offset those losses, the industry has yet to recover fully. Experts fear that another round of aggressive trade policies could inflict even more significant damage.
“The worst-case scenarios are really bad,” warned Sandro Steinbach, director of the Center for Agricultural Policy and Trade Studies at North Dakota State University.
Adding to this economic strain, Trump’s promise to deport millions of undocumented migrants could raise labor costs for farmers who rely heavily on migrant workers to harvest crops. These costs would likely trickle down to consumers in the form of higher food prices, further burdening rural households.
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“It is a stretch to think that if you start deporting undocumented labor, rural people who are hanging out in town are going to step in and fill those jobs, or people are going to move back to the countryside,” said Nicholas Jacobs, a political scientist at Colby College. “There is very little evidence to suggest the labor market would self-correct in that direction.”
Cuts to Medicaid and Education
In addition to his trade and immigration policies, Trump has signaled intentions to slash funding for Medicaid and education. These cuts could be particularly devastating to small-town communities, where rural hospitals often depend on Medicaid funding to stay afloat. Without adequate support, many of these hospitals could face closure, leaving residents with limited access to critical healthcare services.
Trump’s education plans, including a federal voucher system to fund private school tuition, could further strain public schools in rural areas. Similar proposals have been rejected by rural voters in multiple states, yet Trump continues to push for policies that many fear would divert much-needed resources away from public education.
A Reckoning for Rural America?
Despite these looming threats, Trump’s connection with rural voters remains strong. He won roughly 60 percent of the vote in the nation’s 3,100 rural counties during his last election, leveraging a message of cultural resistance and disdain for “elites.” However, experts believe his second term could test the limits of that ideological loyalty.
“Throughout three elections, Trump’s messaging — particularly his hostility to racial and cultural change — has resonated strongly in rural communities,” wrote Ronald Brownstein of The Atlantic. “His second term may test whether that deep reservoir of ideological support can survive policies that threaten the material interests of rural America in so many ways.”
With policies that could undercut both the economic stability and social fabric of rural America, Trump risks alienating the very communities that have formed the backbone of his political support. Whether they continue to back him despite these challenges remains an open question — one with profound implications for the future of rural America.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
